Manama, Bahrain – October 22, 2025(News Desk): Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Yarmook, operating under the Saudi-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), successfully interdicted narcotics worth over $972 million during Focused Operation AL MASMAK in the Arabian Sea. Over a 48-hour period, PNS Yarmook conducted boarding operations on two suspicious dhows that were neither transmitting on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) nor displaying external markings. Both vessels were later determined to be stateless. During the first boarding, conducted on October 18, the crew seized over two tons of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) valued at approximately $822.4 million. Within the next 48 hours, Yarmook’s boarding team intercepted another dhow, recovering 350 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine worth $140 million and 50 kilograms of cocaine valued at $10 million.
The confiscated narcotics were transferred to PNS Yarmook for testing, confirmation, and safe disposal in accordance with international protocols.
Royal Saudi Naval Forces Commodore Fahad Aljoiad, Commander of CTF 150, lauded the achievement, stating:
“The success of this focused operation highlights the importance of multinational collaboration. PNS Yarmook has conducted one of the most successful narcotics seizures in CMF’s history, reflecting the professionalism and coordination of our partner naval forces.”
Focused Operation AL MASMAK, launched on October 16, underscores the strength of coordinated multinational efforts in enhancing regional maritime security. The operation involves naval assets from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Spain, and the United States. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the movement of weapons, drugs, and other illicit materials by non-state actors across the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Oman. The Combined Maritime Forces, a 47-nation naval partnership, continues to promote peace, stability, and the international rules-based order across 3.2 million square miles of vital maritime space, ensuring the safety of global shipping routes.