The MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopter assisted HMAS Warramunga with the haul in international waters of the Arabian Sea this week.

Warramunga is currently deployed to the Middle East under Operation Manitou and over the course of two days, while assigned to Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the ship detected two separate suspect vessels via their MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopter.

The ship’s boarding party was subsequently deployed and upon conducting searches uncovered approximately 6.2 tonnes of hashish on the two vessels.

Commander CTF 150, Commodore Mal Wise, RAN said the seizures reinforced the CTF’s ability to target and disrupt activities that generate funding for terrorist and criminal organisations.

“The interdiction and disposal of these illicit narcotics directly impacts these organisations and shows that CTF 150 and the CMF remain focused on countering terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation and promoting a safe maritime environment,” CDRE Wise said.

These are the twelfth and thirteenth vessels trafficking narcotics that Warramunga has intercepted since starting operations in the Middle East in November 2017.

This takes Warramunga’s total seizures to approximately 26 tonnes of hashish and approximately two tonnes of heroin, valued in excess of $1.8 billion.

The narcotics were transferred to Warramunga and disposed at sea.

Operation MANITOU is the Australian Government's contribution to support international efforts to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region.

CTF 150 is one of three task forces operating under CMF. The combined Australian-Canadian CTF 150 command team handed over to a combined United Kingdom, New Zealand, and French team on Sunday.

Summary of drug seizures by Warramunga: