HMS Montrose nets £6 million cannabis haul in Gulf waters

Type 23 Frigate intercepted smugglers in known narcotics route

A £6 million cannabis haul has been captured by HMS Montrose in the second major hit within months on the Gulf narcotics trade by the Angusaffiliated warship.

Sailors and Royal Marines bagged more than a tonne of the drug when they intercepted smugglers on the infamous Hashish Highway in the waters of the Gulf of Oman.

The Type 23 Frigate is based in Bahrain as part of the Royal Navy’s presence and working in an Australianled international task group on maritime security operations in Middle Eastern waters.

The latest success saw bales of hash recovered from the ocean, before the discovery of a secret narcotics cache hidden aboard a dhow during a two-day operation.

Experts said the cannabis would have been worth some £6 million if it reached Britain’s streets.

Three weeks ago HMS Defender captured two and a half tonnes of the drug and Montrose’s latest strike follows the interception of a cargo of crystal meth and heroin in October, worth around £1m.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said: “This seizure is another impressive demonstration of the Royal Navy’s vital work around the world.

“Our servicemen and women, once again, have proved that their skill and professionalism can disrupt major criminal organisations and continue to keep our citizens safe.”

This week’s success began when the frigate’s Wildcat helicopter, capable of tracking more than 200 vessels simultaneously, came across a dhow moving through waters known to be used by traffickers.

By sunrise the next day, the warship had arrived close to the dhow’s location, ready to pounce.

More than a tonne of cannabis was seized by sailors and Royal Marines during the operation.