In 1st Op as CTF member, Navy seizes 940-kg drugs

CTF 150 is one of the five task forces under combined maritime force — the world’s largest international naval partnership

The Indian Navy ship INS Talwar, operating in support of the Canadian-led Combined Task Force 150, conducted its first seizure of illicit narcotics as a member of combined maritime forces, seizing 940 kgs of drugs in the Arabian Sea on April 13.

CTF 150 is one of five task forces under combined maritime force — the world’s largest international naval partnership. Indian Navy joined CTF last November.

Combined maritime forces is a 42-nation naval partnership, upholding the international rulebased order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

INS Talwar seized 453 kgs of methamphetamines, 416 kgs of hash and 71 kgs of heroin, as part of focused operation Crimson Barracuda.

The ship’s specialist boarding teams and Marcos seized 940 kgs of contraband narcotics. The drugs are being disposed off as per CMF SOPs.

“I commend the crew of

INS-Talwar for their efforts throughout this focused operation, and their hard work has paid off with this seizure of 940 kg of drugs,” said royal Canadian Navy Capt. Colin Matthews, commander, Combined Task Force 150. “This seizure, the fourth of this Focused Operation, demonstrates the effectiveness and professionalism of CMF, and of the Indian Navy, in deterring and disrupting criminal and terrorist activities at sea,” he added.

CTF 150’s mission is to deter the ability of nonstate actors to move weapons, drugs and illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.