Coalition forces, operating in the Gulf of Aden as part of Combined Task Force 150, seized approximately 10 tons of narcotics, with an estimated value of $70 million, stashed in vessels operating along the so-called 'Hash Highway.' CTF 150 is a multi-national task force that that conducts Maritime Security Operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

Coalition forces, operating in the Gulf of Aden as part of Combined Task Force 150, seized approximately 10 tons of narcotics July 7, with an estimated value of $70 million.

A U.S. Navy maritime patrol aircraft and a British warship located and tracked the vessel in the Gulf of Aden and then the crew from the UK ship boarded the dhow approximately 150 miles southeast of Salalah, Oman. This drug seizure is the largest by coalition naval forces in 2009.

The drugs seized by coalition naval forces could have helped to fund the insurgency fighting coalition forces in Afghanistan as well as contribute to instability in the region.

“The seizure of these drugs takes money out of the hands of those financing terrorists in the region,” said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, Combined Maritime Forces. “The smugglers need to know that coalition forces are patrolling the seas and skies above. These efforts send a message to all would-be smugglers that we are here and we won’t tolerate drug trafficking in international waters.”

During the boarding, coalition sailors discovered the drugs in vessels operating along the so called ‘Hash Highway’ and destroyed large quantities of narcotics.

CTF 150 forces have seized more than 18 tons of narcotics during 2009, highlighting the continual presence in the region and the commitment to creating and maintaining a lawful maritime order. In 2008, CTF 150 seized more than 53 tons of narcotics.

CTF 150 is a multi-national task force that that conducts Maritime Security Operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The Task Force was created to counter terrorism, prevent smuggling and deter other destabilizing activities to develop security in the maritime environment and create a lawful maritime order.

MSO complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seeks to disrupt violent extremist use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. Through training opportunities with regional partners, CTF 150 enhances existing cooperative relationships which aim to support regional countries’ struggles against violent extremism.

DVIDS

Forget your mental images of gleaming metal and swarthy men in trendy clothes. This is a picture of a pirate mothership from Somalia. Click on it for a larger version. You almost, almost, feel sorry for the poor buggers. Almost but not quite.

Members of a USS Gettysburg visit, board, search and seizure team and a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement vessel approach a suspected pirate mothership after responding to a merchant vessel distress signal while operating in the Combined Maritime Forces area of responsibility as part of CombineTask Force 151 in the Gulf of Aden, May 13, 2009. Gettysburg, a guided-missile cruiser, is serving as the flagship of CTF 151, a multinational task force to conduct counter-piracy operations. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Eric L. Beauregard

Update 2 pm EDT: Crew is reported to have retaken the ship. Some reports say the captain is still hostage. Crew may be holding 1 pirate, and 4 are reported to be “in the water”.

Maersk A Class vessel similer to Maersk Alabama

CNN is among the agencies reporting that an America-flagged ship, the Maersk Alabama , has been seized by Somali pirates. It was enroute to Mombasa, Kenya with relief supplies.

As we reported here, Task Force 151 has established a safe-transit lane in the Gulf of Aden where ships will be under the observation and erstwhile protection of the various navies supporting the anti-piracy efforts in the region. We have captured a number of pirates, and the idea was that they would be detained, transferred to Kenya and tried there for piracy.

The forseeable result of creating a safe transit lane was that the pirates would move their attacks elsewhere. That is what has been happening this week, including with the Maersk Alabama.

Maersk Line

The guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) intercepted and apprehended nine suspected pirates today in the Gulf of Aden after responding to a distress call from a nearby merchant vessel.

At approximately 4 a.m. local time, the Indian-flagged Motor Vessel Premdivya sent a distress call to all ships in the area reporting that she had been fired upon by a small skiff, and suspected pirates were attempting to board it.

Upon reaching the suspect skiff, the helicopter crew from Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42, embarked aboard Vella Gulf, signaled for the skiff to stop immediately. When the skiff failed to stop, the helicopter fired one warning shot. A second warning shot was fired when the suspects continued to flee.

Once the suspected pirates brought the skiff to a complete stop following the second warning shot, Vella Gulf, and the guided missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) closed immediately to intercept the skiff. Visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams from both warships conducted a consensual boarding and found weapons.

The suspected pirates were apprehended and brought on board Vella Gulf, where they were processed and are being held until they are transfered to a temporary holding facility on board the supply ship USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE-1). They will remain aboard Lewis and Clark until information and evidence is assembled and evaluated and a decision is made regarding their further transfer.

This is the second apprehension of suspected pirates for Vella Gulf in less than 24 hours. There are currently 16 suspected pirates apprehended by the U.S. Navy.

Vella Gulf is the flagship for CTF 151, which is a multinational task force that conducts counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea and was established to create a lawful maritime order and develop security in the maritime environment.

US Navy

Interview with CTF-151′s commander

USS Peleliu and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) stopped a pirate attack of a civilian merchant vessel Aug. 8 approximately 80 miles north of Somalia while conducting Maritime Security Operations.

Under the direction of Combined Task Force 51, Peleliu responded to a call for help from the merchant vessel Gem of Kilakarai at approximately 7 a.m. when the ship reported it was under attack from armed pirates in two small boats with weapons and rifle-launched grenades.
Operating approximately 10 miles away from the merchant vessel when the distress call was received, Peleliu altered her course to intercept the suspected pirate vessels and launched three helicopters.

The two suspected pirate vessels then fled the scene.

Gem of Kilakarai reported one grenade landed on the ship’s bridge wing during the attack, but failed to detonate. No injuries were reported.

Explosive ordnance personnel from the 15th MEU are currently assisting the Gem of Kilakarai in an effort to defuse the unexploded grenade. The merchant vessel was reportedly traveling towards the Suez Canal when the attack took place in the Gulf of Aden.

Peleliu is the flag ship of the Peleliu Strike Group and the 15th MEU which is currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to conduct MSO. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity. These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

DVIDS