- 14 HOURS AGO DECEMBER 24, 2013 12:00AM
A boarding party from HMAS Melbourne hits the deck of a suspicious vessel in the Arabian Sea. Source: Supplied
IT reads like the script of Tom Hanks’ Hollywood pirate blockbuster Captain Phillips – except this time it was the good guys hunting and boarding the bad guys.
The RAN has helped secure an $11.3 million illegal amphetamine bust in the Arabian Sea in a daring aerial and sea operation believed to have netted the largest drug haul in the history of the Combined Maritime Forces.
The suspicious boat’s crew with members of a boarding party from HMAS Melbourne. Source: Supplied
HMAS Melbourne, a guided missile frigate, seized and destroyed 17.8kg of the drug during two separate boardings last week as part of their partnership with the 29-nation, Bahrain-based CMF.
The breakthroughs came only days after Australia assumed control of the CTF 150, the CMF’s maritime security and counter-terrorism group targeting drug shipping routes that fund terrorists, for the fifth time.
Twenty-five Royal Australia Navy personnel and one Defence civilian are leading the maritime effort for the next five months.
Suspected illegal drugs from the suspicious boat in the Commanding Officer’s cabin on board HMAS Melbourne. Source:Supplied
In the first seizure, on December 13, HMAS Melbourne along with a US Navy P-3C Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Canadian Frigate HMCS Toronto located two suspicious vessels operating in the Arabian Sea while the CMF vessels were conducting maritime security operations in the region.
The Australian Navy’s S-70B Seahawk helicopter then observed one vessel transferring a number of unidentified packages to another dhow, sparking suspicions of drug smuggling.
The Australian Navy boarding party identified a suspicious substance while conducting a standard security sweep of one of the vessels and tests on-board returned a positive reading for an amphetamine-based substance.
Suspected seized illegal drugs on board HMAS Melbourne. Source: Supplied
The package contained approximately 9.8kg of suspected drugs and was valued by the US Office of National Intelligence at about $6.2 million on the Australian market.
It was tested, confirmed, some kept for further analysis and the rest destroyed.
Three days later, on December 16, HMAS Melbourne again used the S-70B Seahawk helicopter to locate the other suspicious vessel, about 170 nautical miles southeast of Muscat, Oman.
Navy personnel again boarded the vessel and discovered a number of packages that returned a positive reading for an amphetamine-based substance.
There was another 8kg of drugs worth $5.1 million.
Suspicious boat being boarded by members of a boarding party from HMAS Melbourne. Source: Supplied
Commander Brian Schlegel, the commanding officer for HMAS Melbourne, praised the professionalism of his boarding teams during the two operations.
“The boarding party, operations team, flight crew and for that matter all of the ship’s company conducted themselves in a highly professional manner during these boarding operations,” Commander Schlegel said.
“The ship’s company can be very proud that within a week we have made two major drug seizures.”
Seized drugs, with indicator tests, in a secure area on board HMAS Melbourne. Source: Supplied
Commodore Daryl Bates, AM, the Australian commander of CTF 150, commended HMAS Melbourne’s efforts and those of the other nations involved.
“This removal of another 8kg of amphetamines, combined with the 9.8kg seized … will impact the funding network of the terrorist organisations that rely on these shipments for income,” Commodore Bates said.
“These interceptions prove how valuable the Australian contribution is to the Combined Maritime Forces.
“The successful outcome of this highly complex operation, involving multiple military units from three separate countries including the United States and Canada is testimony to the effectiveness of the 29-nation Combined Maritime Forces and the important role it plays.”
A suspicious boat in the North Arabian Sea being searched by a boarding crew from HMAS Melbourne. Source: Supplied
The Australian Defence Force was yesterday tight-lipped on whether RAN operations would continue into the future given the drawdown of Australia’s military presence in the region.
A spokeswoman said it would be decided on a needs basis and Defence would not comment on specific operational requirements.
The CMF covers 2.5 million square miles of international waters in the Middle East, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
HMAS Melbourne’s boarding party searches a boat suspected of trafficking narcotics in the North Arabian Sea. Source:Supplied
Its main focus is defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional co-operation, and promoting a safe maritime environment.
While Australia leads the CTF 150 (maritime security and counter-terrorism), other combined task forces focus on other areas.
The CTF-151 is responsible for counter piracy and the CTF-152 looks after gulf maritime security and naval co-operation procedures.
While this is the fifth time Australia has led the nations, its fourth contribution as the commanding group only ended in April this year.
Suspicious boat being boarded by members of a boarding party from HMAS Melbourne. Source: Supplied
Aussie raid hits pirates in Arabian Sea: our navy leads the way in crushing the drug barons