French La Fayette-class frigate seizes drugs in Gulf of Oman

A French Navy warship seized 271 kilograms of heroin from a fishing vessel while patrolling international waters in the Gulf of Oman on 17 February.

FS Guépratte (F714) was operating as part of an international task force called Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. CTF 150 is one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces.

The La Fayette-class frigate has been operating in the Middle East since January.

Last month, Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) also participated in the Arabian Gulf mission with a seizure of more than one tonne of drugs from a vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Over the six-month RNZN Command of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF150), 14 suspect vessels were identified and intercepted with a total New Zealand street value of $NZ3.05 billion of drugs seized and destroyed.

As part of CMF, Royal Navy ship HMS Montrose seized over 1 tonne of illicit drugs in the Gulf of Oman worth almost £15 million.

CTF150 is part of a 34 nation coalition responsible for conducting maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf to ensure that legitimate shipping can occur freely. Its mission is to disrupt illicit activity such as the movement of people, weapons and narcotics.