KARACHI: A Pakistan Navy vessel operating under a Saudi Arabia-led multinational task force has seized narcotics valued at around $130 million (Rs36 billion) in the North Arabian Sea, the navy said on Wednesday, in the latest operation targeting one of the world’s busiest maritime drug routes.
The 2,000-kg haul of methamphetamine, often referred to as “ICE,” underscores the growing role of regional cooperation in cracking down on narcotics trafficking networks that move drugs from South Asia toward the Middle East, East Africa, and Europe through the Arabian Sea.
The seizure was carried out by PNS Tabuk, deployed with Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), one of four task forces under the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) — a 39-nation coalition that includes the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other partners tasked with maintaining maritime security across the Indian Ocean.
“The scale of the operation coupled with its flawless execution underscores not only Pakistan Navy’s professionalism but also the effectiveness of multinational coordination under CMF,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
“These successful operations demonstrate Pakistan Navy’s enduring resolve and unwavering commitment against illicit trafficking at sea.”
The operation marks Pakistan’s third major narcotics interdiction in the last two months under the same task force. In October, PNS Yarmook seized a record haul worth nearly $972 million (Rs271 billion), one of the largest drug seizures ever reported in the North Arabian Sea.
Pakistan has been a regular contributor to CMF operations, which rely on rotating deployments from member states to monitor vast stretches of open sea used by criminal networks for smuggling narcotics, weapons, and people.
CTF-150 specifically focuses on maritime security and counter-terrorism operations outside the Arabian Gulf, aiming to disrupt the financial flows of militant and criminal organizations that rely on drug trafficking routes operating between Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, East Africa, and the Gulf.
The latest interception strengthens what officials describe as expanding operational coordination between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, particularly in maritime security and intelligence-sharing across the Arabian Sea, a region critical to global energy shipments and commercial trade.
