The Royal Navy has uncovered more than £3.3m worth of crystal meth after raiding a small ship in the Arabian Sea.
The HMS Defender was alerted to the dhow, a small trading ship historically common on the seas between India and Arabia, by one of its on-board helicopters during a dawn patrol.
With no sign of fishing recognised and no flag aboard the vessel, royal marines and royal navy sailors were dispatched to search it – uncovering 11 mailbag-sized sacks of methamphetamine.
In total, 131kg of the Class A drug were discovered aboard, with an estimated street value in the UK of more than £3.3m.
The destroyer’s commanding officer, Commander Richard Hewitt, said the operation had been “a real boost for the ship's company” ahead of Christmas.
He added: “I am really proud that HMS Defender has been able to interdict such a significant quantity of drugs and prevent it reaching the UK streets.
"It goes to show that even over the festive season, the Royal Navy is at sea 24/7 protecting the UK's interests.
"This has been a real boost for the ship's company as they face Christmas away from their loved ones."
The Portsmouth based Defender is one of a number of Royal Navy vessels – including more than a dozen warships, submarines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary support vessels – that will remain on duty across the Christmas holiday season.
Additional reporting by PA
