See here.

Commodore Keith Winstanley, Commander of Royal Navy forces in the Gulf, said: "The scourge of illegal drugs is one of the gravest threats to the long-term security of Afghanistan, and a vital source of funding for the Taliban warlords who seek violence against Afghan, British and Nato forces.

"Our mission in Afghanistan is one of absolute importance and by seizing these drugs, we have dealt a significant blow to the illegal trade. News of these successes has been kept quiet for operational reasons, but I am delighted that the tremendous efforts can now be recognised."

He said coalition forces had seized more than 30 tonnes of illegal drugs over the past five months - with more than 70 per cent as a result of Royal Navy interceptions. HMS Chatham and HMS Montrose worked with the Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Edinburgh in the operations.

They were supported by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary helicopter support ship Argus and her Sea King aircraft.

Sailors and Royal Marines from the ships discovered hidden drugs while they were often operating in the most unpleasant conditions.

Commodore Winstanley stressed that coalition forces had worked together, and said tactical command at sea had been overseen by Pakistani, French and Canadian task force commanders.

Commander Martin Connell, commanding officer of HMS Chatham, said the result was "really positive", but said it was all in a day's work for the crew. "We managed to locate the vessel and then conduct a very unpleasant boarding in demanding conditions," he said.

"My sailors and Marines did an outstanding job in managing to locate six tonnes of illegal narcotics plus other significant intelligence."

Originally Posted by Yokel

Sailors and Royal Marines from the ships discovered hidden drugs while they were often operating in the most unpleasant conditions.

Boadring party forget to charge their iPod's before the off then

"...seized more than 30 tonnes..."

We'll be seeing it landed on a quayside sometime soon then?

To be honest, I was hoping for a more positive response to this story - also mentioned here and here.

"The scourge of illegal drugs is one of the gravest threats to the long term security of Afghanistan, and a vital source of funding for the Taliban warlords who seek violence against Afghan, British and NATO forces. Our mission in Afghanistan is one of absolute importance and by seizing these drugs we have dealt a significant blow to the illegal trade.

"The scourge of illegal drugs is one of the gravest threats to the long term security of Afghanistan, and a vital source of funding for the Taliban warlords who seek violence against Afghan, British and NATO forces."

"News of these successes has been kept quiet for operational reasons, but I am delighted that the tremendous efforts can now be recognised."

Later on...

Seizures by coalition naval forces over the past five months total 30 tonnes, over 70 per cent of which (23 tonnes) were down to Royal Navy interceptions.

There were several reasons I thought this worth noting...

1. Even an operation in a land locked nation has a maritime dimension (interdict drugs/weapons/terorists being smuggled, providong maritime security including force protection for equipment bound for Afgahnistan), and other things.
2. Significant numbers of RN assets are currently deployed, the augmentation of 3 Cdo Bde is on top of that.
3. Despite the early retirement of the Sea Harrier (see here or here if that doesn't work), naval aviation continues to play a key role in UK operations. This interdiction involved Sea King ASaCs helicopters from RFA Argus.

The page on the RN site which shows current deployments is a little of of date, but does show that the Navy is busy. Those of you who think maritime security operations are waste of time should reflect on the consequences of a single sucessful terrorist attack against a supertanker, or another maritime target.

The success of this operation will surely be reflected in higher street prices, oh yes, it will

30 tonnes is not even a drop in the ocean, so to speak.

MSR

That might well be true, but there are other things terrorists may seek to smuggle by sea.

I'm actually rather impressed that the Navy is doing all these anti-drug ops, and they've had significant successes all around the globe.

In peacetime (so to speak), they've got a very useful and worthwhile role IMHO in doing this job.

The only dedicated anti drugs deployments are in the Carribean (combined with providing support in the event of a disaster due to the weather, some defence diplomacy, and some exercises with the US), although RN (and RAF) assets may be involved in seaborne drugs busts as and when needed.

The operations in the Middle East are part of the war on terror, and are intended to make life harder for terrorists as well as pirates, smugglers and the like. They re there to deter attacks against international shipping, and to counter smuggling of drugs, weapons, explosives or people, and to ensure that if an incident did occur, coalition forces can respond at very short notice. Some of these activities are in direct support of operations ashore in Iraq or Afgahnistan.

Maritime Security Operations

Originally Posted by Biped

I'm actually rather impressed that the Navy is doing all these anti-drug ops, and they've had significant successes all around the globe.

In peacetime (so to speak), they've got a very useful and worthwhile role IMHO in doing this job.

The trouble is that all the 'busts' are just part of doing business in the drugs world, one which the UK Govt alone has gifted a tax free turnover of several billion pounds pa.

The RN can do what they like, but the market (i.e. reality) will determine the price - and it ain't rising.

MSR