U.S. Naval Forces Central Command seized a record amount of illegal cargo during maritime interdictions in 2021.
The Combined Maritime Forces seized more than $193 million in illegal drugs during counternarcotic operations while at sea last year, the Navy announced on Tuesday. The total is more than that of the previous four years combined.
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“We have enhanced our presence and vigilance across regional waters,” Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said. “This reflects our continued commitment to confront destabilizing activities that disrupt the rules-based international order which underlies maritime security in the Middle East.”
The U.S. 5th Fleet, which is also a part of the effort, seized roughly 8,700 illegal weapons, including 1,400 AK-47s, “from a stateless fishing vessel in the North Arabian Sea, Dec. 20,” the release described.
This vessel “was assessed to have originated in Iran and transited international water along a route historically used to traffic weapons unlawfully to the Houthis in Yemen,” which would be in violation of a U.N. Security Council Resolution and U.S. sanctions.
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In a separate incident, the USS Monterey seized dozens of Russian-made anti-tank guided missiles, thousands of Chinese Type 56 assault rifles, and hundreds of PKM machine guns, sniper rifles, and rocket-propelled grenade launches from a stateless vessel in the North Arabian Sea last May.
Late last year, two naval ships, the USS Tempest and USS Typhoon, seized 385 kilograms, or 849 pounds, of heroin, worth roughly $4 million, in a drug bust.
