HMS Dragon seizes three tonnes of hashish on "Hash Highway"
The destroyer HMS Dragon, supporting Combined Task Force 150, boarded a suspicious dhow in the Indian Ocean in November 2018 and seized 148 bags of hashish weighing 3,048 kg from hidden compartments, a blow to terrorist funding.
🇬🇧 Indian Ocean ("Hash Highway"), international waters · United Kingdom
Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon seized three tonnes of hashish in one of the most significant drugs busts in the Gulf that year.[1][2]The Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer, on patrol in the Middle East, came across a suspicious dhow in the notorious drug smuggling route known as the “Hash Highway”.[1][3][2]
Sailors and Royal Marines launched fast boats to intercept and board the vessel, then searched its compartments painstakingly.[1]They found 148 bags of hashish weighing around 3,048 kg in false compartments.[1][3][2]The warship was operating in direct support of Combined Task Force 150, the counter-terrorism and narcotics task force then commanded by the Royal Saudi Navy.[3]Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson called the seizure the latest blow to the illicit drugs trade, and the commanding officer said his 260 crew had done themselves proud.[1]
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The dhow intercepted by HMS Dragon in the Indian OceanPhoto details
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Source: Combined Maritime ForcesRoyal Navy and Royal Marine boarding teams heading to the dhowPhoto details
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