HMAS Darwin seizes 6.2 tonnes of hashish in the Indian Ocean
The frigate HMAS Darwin, working under British-led Combined Task Force 150, boarded a dhow in the Indian Ocean on 28 June 2014 and found 6,248 kg of cannabis resin hidden in its hull after a search of more than 12 hours. The haul, valued at about 18 million pounds, was the largest maritime hashish seizure in the Indian Ocean to date.
🇦🇺 Indian Ocean, international waters · Australia
Cannabis
6.248 t
Value (official estimate)
GBP 18,000,000
The Australian frigate HMAS Darwin, operating in support of the British-led
Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), boarded a dhow in the Indian Ocean and
discovered 6,248 kilograms of cannabis resin hidden within the vessel’s hull.[1][2]The find was made on 28 June 2014 after boarding teams searched the dhow for more
than 12 hours.[2]
The task force called the haul the largest maritime seizure of hashish in the
Indian Ocean to date.[1][2]It was the eighth drugs seizure of Darwin’s
deployment to the Middle East.[2]The resin carried an estimated
street value in Britain of about 18 million pounds.[1]
Why the navy cares
CTF-150’s commander, Royal Navy Commodore Jeremy Blunden, congratulated the
ship’s company for setting new standards in counter-narcotics work in the Indian
Ocean.[2]Darwin’s commanding officer, Commander Terry Morrison, said the ship
remained focused on the war against funding for terrorist organisations.[2]
Strike Force Harthouse detectives raided a rural property at Dandry in January 2022, seizing more than 19,000 cannabis plants valued at about A$66.8 million. Six people aged 23 to 42 were arrested and charged over what police called the biggest cannabis bust on the New South Wales record.
The frigate HMAS Ballarat, operating under Combined Task Force 150, boarded a dhow in the northern Arabian Sea on 8 January 2019 and seized 3,100 kg of hashish worth about A$155 million, its third drugs haul in just over two weeks.
The frigate HMAS Warramunga boarded three suspect vessels in the Arabian Sea between 27 and 29 December 2017 and seized almost eight tonnes of hashish. The Australian Defence Force called it the largest hashish seizure by an Australian ship on Middle East operations.
HMAS Melbourne and PNS Alamgir, operating under Combined Maritime Forces task force CTF-150, boarded a dhow east of Masirah Island, Oman on 13 February 2014 and seized 1,951 kg of cannabis resin hidden in its fishing hold, estimated to be worth about A$113 million.
