Cannabisbust

HMS Monmouth seizes £65M of heroin and cannabis in significant drugs bust

Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth has seized £65m of cannabis and heroin from a suspect vessel in the Indian Ocean, delivering a major blow to the funding of terrorism

Sailors and Royal Marines from the Type 23 frigate destroyed 455kg of cannabis and 266kg of heroin after finding it hidden in the freezer of a fishing boat.

The suspicious dhow – a type of vessel common to the Middle East and Indian Ocean – had been spotted by the ship in an area not normally known for fishing.

Swooping into action before the smugglers could destroy any evidence, HMS Monmouth sent two boarding teams in fast rigid inflatable boats to intercept the dhow.

The teams spent 60 hours painstakingly scouring the vessel for narcotics, before eventually finding them hidden in a freezer beneath three tonnes of ice.

Commander Ian Feasey, HMS Monmouth’s Commanding Officer, said: “Such a substantial seizure of drugs will deal a significant blow to the international narcotics trade which is known to provide funding for terrorist organisations.

“I am extremely proud of the professionalism, diligence and perseverance of my boarding team to achieve a result in such arduous conditions. This has been an effort by the whole ship’s company and their efforts speak volumes about the Royal Navy’s ability and commitment to preventing illegal activity on the high seas.”

Monmouth drugs bust

After removing three tonnes of ice from a freezer on board, a hidden compartment was found, in which the dhow’s crew had hidden the 266kg of pure heroin and 455k of cannabis resin with a total street value in the UK of around £65m.

Lieutenant Alison Ross, one of HMS Monmouth’s boarding officers, said: “After such a long search I had doubts we would find anything, but the reactions of the crew to our activity in certain areas was enough to convince us that there was illegal cargo.

“Eventually the breakthrough was made and we could bring the operation to a close, having successfully put a stop to the progress of the drugs.”

Once all the drugs had been photographed by the Royal Navy Police on board HMS Monmouth, the packages were disposed of in the sea ensuring no profits can be made from them.

That drug bust came hot on the heels of a double seizure of heroin by the French frigate Surcouf which brought in 400kg of heroin, worth around £120m on the streets.