This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63189611
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| HMS Montrose: Royal Navy seizes drugs worth £15m in Arabian Sea | HMS Montrose: Royal Navy seizes drugs worth £15m in Arabian Sea |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Royal Navy has seized drugs worth more than £15m from a boat in the Arabian Sea. | The Royal Navy has seized drugs worth more than £15m from a boat in the Arabian Sea. |
| Hundreds of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine were recovered from the dhow by the crew of HMS Montrose in a six-hour operation. | Hundreds of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine were recovered from the dhow by the crew of HMS Montrose in a six-hour operation. |
| It was the fifth drugs raid by the frigate this year. | It was the fifth drugs raid by the frigate this year. |
| HMS Montrose's commanding officer said the seizure was a huge blow to criminal gangs and terrorists using drugs to fund their activities. | |
| "Disrupting terrorist organisations, criminals and their funding lines is key to keeping to UK, and rest of the world, safe," Commander Claire Thompson said. | |
| A Navy spokesman said HMS Montrose sent a helicopter to track the movements of a suspect boat before specialist Royal Marines from 42 Commando seized control of it in choppy conditions. | A Navy spokesman said HMS Montrose sent a helicopter to track the movements of a suspect boat before specialist Royal Marines from 42 Commando seized control of it in choppy conditions. |
| An initial search turned up some drugs and the boarding team of sailors and Marines then found a hidden compartment behind a false bulkhead on the small boat. | An initial search turned up some drugs and the boarding team of sailors and Marines then found a hidden compartment behind a false bulkhead on the small boat. |
| In total, there was 870kg (1,918lb) of crystal methamphetamine on board, which the National Crime Agency said had a wholesale value of £15.5m. | In total, there was 870kg (1,918lb) of crystal methamphetamine on board, which the National Crime Agency said had a wholesale value of £15.5m. |
| HMS Montrose, based in Devonport, Plymouth, has been deployed in the Middle East since 2019. | |
| It has seized an estimated £47m worth of drugs and two illegal arms shipments so far this year. | |
| The frigate is part of the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150, a partnership of 38 nations involved in maritime security operations across the Red and Arabian Seas, and parts of the Indian Ocean. | |
| Royal Navy officers lay out the drugs haul on the deck of HMS Montrose | Royal Navy officers lay out the drugs haul on the deck of HMS Montrose |