Another week, another drug bust for HMAS Warramunga, with a Seahawk Romeo helicopter from the 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross playing a leading role in the latest seizure of illegal drugs in the Western Indian Ocean, nabbing another 414 kilograms of heroin valued in excess of $124 million.
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Warramunga has now seized and destroyed narcotics from seven vessels since deploying to the Middle East in November, totalling 11.5 tonnes of hashish and 1.5 tonnes of heroin, valued in excess of $1 billion.
The ship’s Seahawk Romeo helicopter crew detected the smuggling vessel while conducting surveillance late on February 1, in an operation planned by the Australian-led Combined Task Force 150 [CTF 150].
The subsequent boarding by Warramunga’s crew located the narcotics.
Commanding Officer of HMAS Warramunga, Commander Dugald Clelland RAN said the ship’s seventh seizure had achieved a significant milestone for Australian maritime operations.
“As a result of this latest seizure, Warramunga has now taken more than $1 billion of narcotics out of circulation, meaning the funds raised from this sale are no longer available for use by terrorist organisations around the world,” he said.
The Commander of CTF 150, Commodore Mal Wise, RAN, said the ship’s ongoing success was the result of close cooperation between the ship’s crew and the Australian-Canadian planning team at CTF 150.
“The team on land and at sea has worked well to identify and search vessels of interest in a large geographic area, dealing a series of significant blows to the drug trade that funds violent extremists,” he said.
The narcotics were transferred to Warramunga and disposed at sea.
This is Warramunga’s fifth successful interception since late last year.
December 27-29, 2017: hashish, 8 tonnes; heroin, 69 kg (three vessels interdicted over this period.
January 3, 2018: hashish, 3.5 tonnes.
January 7, 2018: heroin, 111kg.
January 24, 2018: heroin, 915kg.
February 1, 2018: heroin, 414kg.
This is Warramunga’s third deployment to the Middle East region, and is the 66th rotation of a RAN vessel in the region since 1990.
Operation Manitou is the Australian Government's contribution to support international efforts to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region.
Combined Taskforce 150 is one of three task forces operating under Combined Maritime Forces. Australia assumed command the Combined Task Force 150 in December 2017.
