Pakistan Navy seizes $750m worth of narcotics in Arabian Sea during joint operation

The Pakistan Navy seized narcotics worth approximately $750 million during a joint counter-narcotics operation in the Arabian Sea, according to a statement issued on Saturday. The operation was conducted by Pakistan Navy ships PNS Hunain and PNS Yarmook under the ambit of maritime security operations, the navy’s Director General Public Relations said.

According to the statement, the ships intercepted a suspicious boat during routine patrols and conducted a boarding operation. More than 2,800 kilogrammes of narcotics were recovered from concealed compartments on board the vessel during the subsequent inspection. “This remarkable achievement reflects Pakistan Navy’s sustained surveillance, vigilance, and unwavering commitment to regional maritime security, global peace, and the fight against illicit trafficking at sea.” Following the operation, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf commended the officers and crew of PNS Hunain and PNS Yarmook for their “professionalism, vigilance and dedication”. He said the Pakistan Navy remained committed to safeguarding national maritime interests and maintaining good order at sea while contributing to the security of the global commons. Earlier in June, the navy seized around two tonnes of drugs — 1,500 kilograms of hashish and 500 kgs of ‘ice’ — near the coastline of Gwadar. The value of seized drugs was estimated at around $215 million in the international market. In October last year, the navy seized narcotics worth more than $972 million from sailboats in the Arabian Sea. The navy said in a statement that the achievement highlighted its “unwavering commitment to regional maritime security, global peace, and the collective fight against illicit trafficking at sea”.