Pakistan Navy seizes $130 million meth shipment in Arabian Sea

KARACHI (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Navy (PN) has seized over 2,000 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, in the Arabian Sea, in a drug bust valued at US$130 million, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.

The operation was carried out by PNS Tabuk, deployed on a regional maritime security patrol (RMSP) and supporting the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) under the Combined Maritime Force (CMF), a multinational naval coalition that includes the United States.

The navy said PNS Tabuk intercepted a “suspicious dhow” operating in the Arabian Sea. Following a carefully planned operation, the ship successfully seized over 2,000kg of methamphetamine from the stateless vessel.

This seizure marks the third major narcotics interdiction by the Pakistan Navy in just two months, demonstrating the service’s “enduring resolve and unwavering commitment” against illicit trafficking at sea.

“The scale of the operation, coupled with its flawless execution, underscores not only PN’s professionalism but also the effectiveness of multinational coordination under CMF,” the navy’s Directorate-General Public Relations (DG PR) said.

PN officials emphasised that the operation reflects the navy’s commitment to safeguarding national maritime interests and upholding the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, while contributing to global maritime security efforts.

Last month, PN Yarmook seized narcotics worth more than $972 million from sailboats in the Arabian Sea. In August, the navy, in coordination with the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), captured around 1,250kg of illicit drugs valued at $38 million from smugglers near Balochistan’s Pasni coast.