A Bahrain-based naval force has seized drugs worth millions of dollars from a dhow sailing off the coast of East Africa.

A total of 324kg of heroin with a street value of $132 million was confiscated by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) during a routine patrol, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The Royal Australian Navy warship HMAS Toowoomba, operating as part of Pakistan-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), intercepted the dhow on November 20 and conducted an exhaustive search that led to the discovery of the drugs hidden in hessian bags.

HMAS Toowoomba Commanding Officer Commander Cath Hayes said her team has been responsible for disrupting the smuggling of narcotics in the Indian Ocean, which, according to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, have been used as funding for international terrorist organisations.

The same warship, on November 17, seized 388kg of heroin worth $158m from smugglers off the coast of East Africa.

"I am extremely proud of the combined efforts of each of the 191 members of Toowoomba's Ship Company in achieving these recent two drug interdictions," said Commander Hayes.

"Once again, our colleagues at Combined Task Force 150 and the Combined Maritime Forces worked with us, making sure we were in the right place at the right time to strike and that is what we did."

CTF-150 Commander Commodore Sajid Mahmood said this was third successful drugs bust by HMAS Toowoomba since Pakistan took command in August this year.

"Toowoomba's most recent success proves her worth yet again as a capable and effective military unit for use against narcotics smugglers and also validates our plans formulated against these criminals," he said.

"The herculean effort in seizing 324kg of heroin just 72 hours after their last drug bust demonstrates the professionalism, dedication and resolve of the men and women of HMAS Toowoomba's boarding team."

The CMF, which is made up of 30 nations including Bahrain, focuses on defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional co-operation, and promoting a safe maritime environment. The task force has been stationed at the US Navy Base in Bahrain since its formation in 2001. - TradeArabia News Service