US military arrests smuggling vessel
The US military stopped a smuggling vessel in the Gulf of Oman this week, uncovering $33 million worth of methamphetamine and hashish.
US Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell stopped the alleged fishing vessel in international waters near the coast of Bahrain. US forces boarded the vessel and seized 4,000 kilograms of hashish and 512 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The Emlen Tunnel operates as part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) patrolling the Gulf, which includes ships from the British Royal Navy and other allies.
“This is just the beginning of our work to conduct maritime security operations in the region to stop illicit activity and drug trafficking,” said British Royal Navy Captain James Byron, who commands the ship. Emlen Tunnell’s CMF group. “This is the result of a valuable partnership between CTF 150 and all Combined Maritime Forces partner nations.”
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A US Coast Guard vessel has seized $33 million worth of illegal drugs after stopping a smuggling vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
(US Central Command)
US forces have also seized thousands of rifles and other military equipment from Iranian smuggling ships bound for Yemen.
The US Navy stopped one of these ships on January 6, finding 2,116 assault rifles. The Yemeni-crewed vessel was the third fishing vessel to be found smuggling lethal aid from Iran to Houthi rebels in Yemen since November. US forces also seized more than 50 tons of ammunition, rockets and rocket propellants on December 1.
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USS The Sullivans, USS Hurricane and USCG John Scheuerman also intercepted more than 70 tons of chemicals used to make rocket propellant and explosives on November 8.
More recently, French special forces on Monday confiscated more than 3,000 assault rifles, 500,000 cartridges and 20 anti-tank guided missiles from another Iranian smuggling vessel. The French worked in coordination with American forces to bring in the spoils.
The US Navy confiscated 2,116 assault rifles smuggled from Iran to Yemen.
An Iranian smuggling vessel stopped by US Navy forces.
“This shipment is part of an ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities by Iran,” Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. Forces, said earlier in January. maritime combined. “These threats hold our attention. We remain vigilant in detecting any maritime activity that impedes freedom of navigation or compromises regional security.”
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The US Navy also has a long history of interactions with Iranian ships in the region. Three Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGCN) clashed with a US convoy in the Strait of Hormuz in June 2022, with one of the ships coming within 50 yards of the USS Sirocco.
