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The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Ballarat has seized more than 3.1 tonnes of hashish worth about $155 million during a boarding operation in the Arabian Sea.
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HMAS Ballarat intercepted the fishing vessel believed to be engaged in illegal activity when Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) directed Ballarat to board the vessel and conduct a flag verification check.
Commanding Officer of HMAS Ballarat, Commander Paul Johnson, said the boarding team conducted the night-time boarding professionally. He said the team found the drugs hidden in voids around the vessel.
"The seizure is a reflection of the continued trade in illegal narcotics, which has the potential to fund terrorist groups across the region," CMDR Johnson said.
Ballarat’s boarding team searched the dhow and seized the hashish. The drugs were transferred to Ballarat for disposal.
"HMAS Ballarat is contributing to the Australian government’s mission to ensure Middle East regional maritime security. Ballarat and her crew remain ready to continue that mission during our deployment on Operation Manitou," CMDR Johnson explained.
Commander CTF 150, Commodore Darren Garnier of the Royal Canadian Navy, said the seizure would disrupt revenue supplies to terrorist organisations and was a good start to the new year.
"As CTF 150 marks its sixth seizure in six weeks, our successes demonstrate the value of the co-ordinated efforts of the CMF international naval partnerships," CDRE Garnier said.
This is the third interdiction of narcotics by Ballarat since arriving in the Middle East in November last year on Operation Manitou. Ballarat seized more than 900 kilograms of heroin worth more than $279 million after boarding two vessels on 21 and 23 December 2018.
Operation Manitou is Australia’s contribution to CMF operations, a 33-navy partnership that promotes maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East region.
