U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) was patrolling regional waters in assist of Mixed Activity Pressure (CTF) 150 when it seized 4,000 kilograms of cannabis and 512 kilograms of methamphetamine from the smuggling vessel.
At the moment led by the UK Royal Navy, CTF 150 is one among 4 job forces organized below the Mixed Maritime Forces (CMF). This was the primary drug seizure in 2023 for CMF.
“That is only the start of our work in delivering maritime safety operations within the area to cease illicit actions and drug smuggling,” stated UK Royal Navy Capt. James Byron, the CTF 150 commander. “This comes on account of a valued partnership between CTF 150 and all companion nations in Mixed Maritime Forces.”
Byron assumed command of the multinational job power Jan. 18 after Royal Saudi Navy Rear Adm. Abdullah Al-Mutairi led the unit for six months.
Underneath Al-Mutairi’s management, CTF 150 ships logged greater than 10,000 hours on regional patrols and intercepted six shipments of unlawful medicine that included opium, heroin, cannabis and amphetamines. The mixed estimated worth of the seized medicine totaled greater than $250 million.
Since 2021, CMF has interdicted $1 billion value of illicit narcotics throughout maritime patrols. CMF is the biggest worldwide naval partnership on the earth consisting of 38 member-nations and companions.
