Pakistan Navy Seizes Nearly $1bn Drugs in Arabian Sea Operation

The Pakistan Navy says it has seized narcotics valued at nearly $1 billion during two interdictions in the Arabian Sea carried out under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) operation “Al Masmak.” According to statements from CMF and the US military, the offshore patrol vessel PNS Yarmook boarded two stateless dhow boats less than 48 hours apart, recovering several tonnes of crystal methamphetamine and a smaller cache of cocaine.

Officials said the first boarding on October 18 yielded more than two tonnes of methamphetamine, with a street value estimated at $822.4 million. A second boarding soon after netted roughly 350 kilograms of meth and 50 kilograms of cocaine, valued at about $150 million combined. Both vessels were reportedly not transmitting on AIS and bore no identifying markings, a common tactic among traffickers seeking to evade detection on long sea routes.

CMF leaders hailed the seizures as among the most successful drug busts in the task force’s recent history, noting the coalition’s 47-member navies patrol more than three million square miles of strategic waters. Pakistan Navy’s spokesperson said the operation underscores the service’s commitment to maritime security and the disruption of transnational criminal networks across the Indian Ocean region.

The seized substances were transferred to the ship for testing and later disposed of in accordance with established procedures. The navy chief commended the Yarmook’s crew for their professionalism and said Pakistan remains a responsible partner in cooperative security efforts aimed at safeguarding trade corridors and deterring illicit trafficking.