USS Philippine Sea seizes $2.9M of heroin in North Arabian Sea

Vessels

February 2, 2021, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

The US Navy’s Flight II Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) interdicted a shipment of more than 275 kg of suspected narcotics from a dhow in the international waters of the North Arabian Sea on 30 January 2021.

Sailors assigned to guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea board a dhow suspected of carrying narcotics in the international waters of the North Arabian Sea. US Navy photo

The cruiser is deployed to U.S. Fifth Fleet and operates in support of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

As informed, seven bags of suspected narcotics were seized and tested, resulting in a seizure of approximately 600 lbs. of suspected heroin, worth $2.89 million wholesale.

This seizure, conducted in direct support of CMF’s Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, marks the seventh CMF drug seizure since October 2020.

CTF-150 conducts maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf to disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations, ensuring legitimate commercial shipping can transit the region, free from non-state threats.

CTF-150 is currently commanded by the Royal Canadian Navy, now leading the task force for the fifth time.