Indian Navy Carries Out First Drug Interdiction as Combined Maritime Forces Member

Indian Navy Ship INS Talwar, operating in support of the Canadian-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, has carried out its first interdiction of illicit narcotics as a member of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), seizing 940 kg of drugs in the Arabian Sea on April 13.

The Talwar, a Talwar-class frigate, confiscated 453 kg of methamphetamines, 416 kg of hash, and 71 kg of heroin from a dhow as part of Focused Operation Crimson Barracuda.

The Indian Navy joined CMF in November last year. This seizure marks the fourth successful operation under Focused Operation Crimson Barracuda.

Crimson Barracuda, which concluded on April 15, was aimed at countering the use of the high seas by terrorist and criminal organizations for smuggling operations in the Western Indian Ocean region.

CTF 150 is one of the five task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces, which is the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the movement of weapons, drugs, and other illicit substances by non-state actors in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Oman.

The Combined Maritime Forces comprise 42 nations and are committed to upholding the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water, covering some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.