The Royal New Zealand Navy has supported operations in the Middle East that have led to more than 22 tonnes of illicit drugs being seized and destroyed.
Four Navy personnel, based in Bahrain, have been part of a task force working to prevent terrorism and stop the movement of drugs.
The Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 was led by the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy.
The drugs seized between January and July this year had an estimated wholesale value of more than $495 million.
Four Royal New Zealand Navy personnel were among those deployed to the Royal Navy-led CTF 150. Photo: Supplied
Lieutenant Michael Linehan, one of the four personnel, said the deployment gave him a new opportunity to work onshore.
“Working with our longstanding partners from the United Kingdom was highly rewarding, and it was a great experience to meet mariners from so many different countries, see maritime operations from the other side, and work together with other nations cooperating as a coalition force.”
Around seven tonnes of the overall haul was heroin and methamphetamine.
CTF 150 reports an increase in these more damaging and addictive drugs being trafficked over maritime routes.
