The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Emlen Tunnell seized 2,357 kg of hashish from a stateless dhow off Oman on 7 February 2025 while patrolling with Combined Task Force 150. The New Zealand Defence Force called it the task force’s first drug bust under New Zealand’s command; Stars and Stripes reported the weight as nearly 5,300 pounds.
🇺🇸 Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman · United States
On 7 February 2025, a crew from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Emlen Tunnell seized
illegal drugs from a stateless vessel in the Arabian Sea.[1]The boarding team
found 2,357 kg of hashish aboard.[2]The cutter was patrolling off Oman as
part of Combined Task Force 150 when its crew spotted a suspicious dhow on a
well-known drug-smuggling route.[2]Stars and Stripes described the haul as
nearly 5,300 pounds.[1]
New Zealand took command of CTF 150 on 15 January.[1]The interception was the
task force’s first drug seizure under New Zealand’s leadership.[1]Royal New
Zealand Navy Commodore Rodger Ward was CTF 150’s commander.[2]Ward said he
was pleased the task force had achieved its first successful bust after only a
few weeks in command.[2]
CTF 150 is one of five operational task forces under the Combined Maritime
Forces, based in Bahrain and focused on maritime security in the Middle East,
especially disrupting drug-smuggling operations.[2]Ward said every bust
reduced the flow of finances to terrorist organisations and contributed to
maritime security and protection of the international rules-based system.[3]
Photos and video
A USCGC Emlen Tunnell boarding team boards a suspicious dhow in the Arabian Sea to seize and destroy 2,357 kg of hashish.Photo details
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Source: New Zealand Defence ForceA crew from USCGC Emlen Tunnell seizes illegal drugs from a stateless vessel in the Arabian Sea. Photo: U.S. Coast GuardPhoto details
1News1news.co.nzShip with 2357kg of hashish on Oman coast stopped by NZ task force
Open questions the AI reported
The exact interception coordinates and distance from Oman were not reported; the coordinates mark only the Arabian Sea region.
Stars and Stripes described the load as nearly 5,300 pounds, while the New Zealand Defence Force and 1News gave 2,357 kg; this report records the exact NZDF metric figure and treats the pounds figure as approximate.
The opened accounts give no crew count or legal status for the dhow's crew and do not say whether anyone was detained, arrested or charged.
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