Islamabad: A Pakistan Navy ship has seized 5,000kg of drugs worth millions of dollars destined for the Gulf region during a maritime security operation in the North Arabian Sea.
The huge cache of contraband drugs was seized as the Pakistan Navy Ship ASLAT was undertaking Maritime Security Operations in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), officials said.
“After gathering credible evidence, Special Warfare teams of PNS Aslat boarded the suspected vessel, undertook a search operation and seized 5,000kg of hashish,” the Navy statement said.
The seized narcotics and suspects were later handed over to the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) for further legal proceedings and its disposal as per law.
“The success of Pakistan Navy ship in interrupting the flow of narcotics highlights the importance accorded by Pakistan’s navy in patrolling the waters of North Indian Ocean to ensure a free flow of legitimate commerce and deny the use of high seas to terrorists and all associated miscreants,” the statement added.
Pakistan’s navy has long been engaged in securing sea lanes across the Indian Ocean to prevent the use of the vast waters for any unlawful purpose, and to curb the illegal transportation of contraband via the sea, officials said.
the Pakistan Navy Ship ASLAT is a F-22P frigate capable of undertaking variety of combat as well as full spectrum Maritime Security Operations at sea.
The ship was deployed as part of the Multinational Combined Task Force-150 (CTF-150), which is part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Task Force-150 is delegated to ensure maritime security to prevent counter terrorism and associated illegal activities.
