Royal Navy seizes massive drugs haul in the Gulf

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Plymouth-based Royal Navy warships operating in the Gulf region have seized a massive 23 tonnes of narcotics, which could have been used to fund the insurgency fighting British forces in Afghanistan.


A team from HMS Chatham boards the dhow found to be carrying drugs
[Picture: Royal Navy]

The British warships involved were Devonport-based frigates HMS Chatham and HMS Montrose, and the Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Edinburgh. They were supported by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary helicopter support ship Argus and her embarked Sea King aircraft.

Sailors and Royal Marines from the ships discovered hidden drugs in vessels along the so-called 'Hash Highway', and often operated in the most unpleasant of conditions. The narcotics they seized included hashish, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines.

Speaking from the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters in Bahrain, the Commander of Royal Navy forces in the region, Commodore Keith Winstanley, said:

"The scourge of illegal drugs is one of the gravest threats to the long term security of Afghanistan, and a vital source of funding for the Taliban warlords who seek violence against Afghan, British and NATO forces. Our mission in Afghanistan is one of absolute importance and by seizing these drugs we have dealt a significant blow to the illegal trade.

"News of these successes has been kept quiet for operational reasons, but I am delighted that the tremendous efforts can now be recognised."

Cdre Winstanley stressed the coalition aspect of the counter-drugs operations, pointing out that tactical command at sea had been under the auspices of Pakistani, French and Canadian Task Force Commanders.

The Commanding Officer of HMS Chatham, Commander Martin Connell, added:

"This is a really positive result for HMS Chatham, but is in fact routine business for us. We managed to locate the vessel and then conduct a very unpleasant boarding in demanding conditions. My sailors and marines did an outstanding job in managing to locate six tons of illegal narcotics plus other significant intelligence."

By some estimates hashish accounts for half the profits from the drug trade in the region. The United Nations World Drug Report estimates that drug addiction rates have almost tripled in the Arab world.

HMS Chatham Warfare Officer, Lieutenant Joanne Cave, who led the initial phase of the boarding, said:



HMS Montrose standing by, as seen from the deck of the dhow
[Picture: Royal Navy]

"Boarding operations are always quite physical and arduous tasks but this particular boarding displayed the determination and professionalism of my team in an excellent light. We all worked hard to achieve the aim of securing, searching and collecting evidence from a vessel crawling with cockroaches and rats in the extreme heat of the Gulf.

"The success of the deployed Boarding Teams and the concurrent activity from HMS Chatham herself just goes to prove how versatile and capable the ship's boarding assets are. The support of the boats' crews and flight were also vital to the smooth running of the operation. To say that we have made a small effort towards stopping the trafficking of illegal drugs is a rewarding experience and one that I would gladly participate in again."

One of the boarding officers involved, Lieutenant Tom Philips, added:

"We realised something wasn't right when the crew said they had been fishing for five days but there were only a handful of fish in the freezer. The helicopter crew had also told us that the dhow's crew had been ditching bails out the back as we approached.

"However, around 35 of us were involved in the operation, supported by the main ship's company of 250 in HMS Chatham. We were working in pretty horrible conditions. When you are crawling through tight compartments in 50 degree heat and surrounded by rats and cockroaches, you have to remain pretty focused. However, we had a job to do and everyone carried out their duties with the utmost professionalism; ultimately, the result was more than worth it!"

Seizures by coalition naval forces over the past five months total 30 tonnes, over 70 per cent of which (23 tonnes) were down to Royal Navy interceptions.

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