MELBOURNE: The Australian Navy has seized 427 kilograms of heroin as part of anti-narcotics operations in the Indian Ocean.
HMAS Melbourne made the discovery after intercepting a suspicious vessel in international waters last Friday.
The drugs have an estimated street value of $126 million.
Vice-Admiral David Johnston told a media briefing in Canberra the drugs were located in a hidden compartment on a suspicious fishing boat.
“While on patrol, [HMAS] Melbourne was directed by the Coalition Maritime Force Headquarters to board a suspicious fishing dhow [boat] in international waters in the Indian Ocean,” Vice-Admiral Johnston said.
“During the inspection of the [boat] and her crew, a hidden compartment was discovered that was filled with a suspected narcotic, later identified as heroin.”
The drugs have since been destroyed.
Vice-Admiral Johnston said Australian Navy vessels had intercepted and destroyed 4,800 kg of drugs since February last year.
“We know that one of the key sources of terrorism funding is the illegal narcotics trade, and this latest haul is part of the ongoing Coalition counter-terrorism contribution,” he said.
HMAS Melbourne’s Commanding Officer Commander Bill Waters has paid tribute to the ship’s crew.
“This latest intercept shows our continuing vigilance is essential in the fight against terrorism,” he said in a statement.
“The entire crew has worked tirelessly for a result of which we are extremely proud.”
It is not the first time HMAS Melbourne has been involved in a major drug bust.
“Melbourne is on her eighth deployment to the Middle East Region and is the 61st rotation of a RAN vessel in the region since the first Gulf War in 1990,” Vice-Admiral Johnston said.
“The ship was highly successful on the previous deployment which culminated in narcotics interceptions valued at about $1.2 billion over the course of the mission that concluded in February last year.
“We know that one of the key sources of terrorism funding is the illegal narcotics trade, and this latest haul is part of the ongoing Coalition counter-terrorism contribution.”
