Pakistan Navy Seizes $130 Million Meth Haul in Arabian Sea Operation

The Pakistan Navy intercepted a stateless dhow in the Arabian Sea and confiscated more than 2,000 kilograms of methamphetamine worth $130 million. The operation, carried out by PNS TABUK under the Combined Maritime Forces framework, marks the Navy’s third major drug seizure in two months and underscores its expanding role in regional maritime security and counter-narcotics efforts.

ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Navy has intercepted a massive drug shipment in the Arabian Sea, confiscating over 2,000 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated regional wholesale value of $130 million, military officials announced Wednesday.

The naval vessel PNS TABUK conducted the counter-narcotics operation while on Regional Maritime Security Patrol, working in support of the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150 under the Combined Maritime Forces framework, according to a statement from the Director General of Public Relations (Navy).

During the operation, crew members aboard TABUK identified and boarded a suspicious stateless dhow, where they discovered the substantial cache of methamphetamine, commonly known as ICE. The seizure represents the third successful drug interdiction by Pakistan Navy vessels in the past two months, highlighting an intensified crackdown on maritime narcotics trafficking.

“These successful operations demonstrate the Pakistan Navy’s enduring resolve and unwavering commitment against illicit trafficking at sea,” the statement read. “The scale of the operation, coupled with its flawless execution, underscores not only the Navy’s professionalism but also the effectiveness of multinational coordination under CMF.”

The Arabian Sea has long been a corridor for drug smuggling, with traffickers using small vessels to transport narcotics from production centers in Afghanistan and Pakistan to markets in Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. The Combined Maritime Forces, a multinational naval partnership, has been working to combat this illicit trade through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Military officials emphasized that the Pakistan Navy remains dedicated to protecting national maritime interests while upholding international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and contributing to broader global maritime security efforts.

The latest bust continues a pattern of increased naval enforcement in regional waters, where authorities have been stepping up efforts to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs transported by sea. The fate of the seized narcotics and any crew members detained during the operation was not immediately disclosed.