PNS Yarmook of the Pakistan Navy has seized narcotics worth over $972 million from two vessels in the Arabian Sea during the previous week, the naval network managing the operation has announced.
This operation was carried out in collaboration with the Combined Maritime Force (CMF), a multinational naval alliance that includes the United States. While assisting the Saudi-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 under the focused operation Al Masmak, the Pakistani ship intercepted two dhows in a span of 48 hours last week, starting from October 16.
According to the CMF statement, “The crew boarded the first dhow and confiscated more than two tons of crystal methamphetamine, valued at approximately $822,400,000, on October 18. Within less than 48 hours, the crew boarded a second dhow and captured 350 kilograms of crystal meth valued at $140,000,000, along with 50 kg of cocaine worth $10,000,000.”
The statement continued that the drugs were returned to the ship “for testing to confirm their contents and later disposed of.” The intercepted vessels were described as “having no nationality,” although their origin was not disclosed.
Commodore Fahad Aljoiad of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, who commands the CMF taskforce involved in the operation, remarked, “The achievement of this focused operation underscores the significance of multinational cooperation.” He referred to the seizures as “one of the most successful narcotics interceptions for CMF.”
The US Central Command shared a message on X congratulating the CMF. The force comprises navies from 47 nations and monitors over three million square miles, spanning some of the world’s busiest shipping routes, with the goal of disrupting the smuggling of drugs and weapons.
PNS Yarmook was commissioned in Romania in February 2020 and became part of the Pakistan Navy fleet in December 2020.
The ship is outfitted for electronic warfare, anti-ship and anti-air operations, and includes systems for self-protection and terminal defense. It is capable of conducting various maritime operations in conjunction with unmanned aerial vehicle missions.
In March 2024, PNS Yarmook participated in a rescue mission following a distress signal from a boat carrying eight Iranian fishermen that was on fire. The ship was also deployed in July 2024 in the Indian Ocean with an onboard helicopter to ensure the safety and security of merchant vessels traveling to and from Pakistan’s ports.