HMNZS Te Kaha participating in Operation Haku. Onboard suspect Dhow

New Zealand Frigate Seizes Heroin Worth $235m

The New Zealand Defence Force frigate HMNZS TE KAHA has dealt drug smugglers in the Western Indian Ocean a blow, seizing almost 260 kilograms of heroin worth NZ$235 million.

The ship has been working with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a US-led naval partnership which aims to prevent drug and people trafficking, piracy and terrorism, since May.

“The deployment of both the Orion and TE KAHA to the CMF demonstrates the cooperative effort that our Navy and Air Force can achieve on operations as well as with other nations. It is a significant contribution to enhance maritime security in the Middle East,” says CDRE Campbell.

TE KAHA intercepted and searched nine dhows during patrols off the Horn of Africa and Madagascar in the past five weeks. Her drug haul represents a quarter of the 981 kgs of illegal drugs that have been seized and destroyed since May.

NZDF Maritime Component Commander Commodore John Campbell said the haul was a great outcome for international security and a massive achievement for the TE KAHA crew.

Early on 8 June, a boarding party from TE KAHA uncovered 139 one-kilogram bags of heroin in hidden compartments on a medium-sized dhow the ship had monitored overnight.

“New Zealand may be a relatively small nation but as good international citizens, we do play our part in maintaining global security.

“The seizure of these drugs has also contributed to the CMF’s efforts to staunch the flow of funds for terrorist activities in the Middle East region and internationally.

In a second interception on 13 June, TE KAHA’s crew boarded another dhow spotted by a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion. After a seven-hour search, TE KAHA crew discovered 118 kg of heroin.

“These drugs were bound for Africa and eventually Europe. Our contribution thus assisted the security of both of these regions.”

CDRE Campbell paid tribute to the hard work and perseverance of the crews from TE KAHA and the P-3K2 Orion, many of whom have been away from New Zealand and their families for several months.

The CMF is a 30-nation naval partnership led by the United States that promotes maritime security and seeks to defeat terrorism, prevent piracy and the illegal trafficking of people and drugs. It conducts maritime security operations to prevent terrorists from using the seas to launch an attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other illicit material.

“Our people underlie the success of every operation,” CDRE Campbell said.

“NZDF has some outstanding people and the success in this globally-significant counter-narcotics operation is proof of that.”

Preparing narcotics for disposal:The total drugs cache recovered by New Zealand forces was 257kg. In the same operation, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS NEWCASTLE netted 724kg worth an estimated NZ$660 million.

Original post and more images on the NZDF Facebook page.