topic Re: HMAS Darwin makes record $290m heroin bust in Community Spirit

HMAS Darwin makes record $290m heroin bust

grandmoon — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 06:48:26 GMT

Australian warship HMAS Darwin has seized more than a tonne of heroin valued at almost $290 million from a smuggling boat off Kenya.

The record 1032-kilogram haul was discovered aboard a dhow in the Indian Ocean, about 27 nautical miles east of Mombasa, Defence says in a statement.

Darwin's crew spotted the vessel on Wednesday and a boarding team discovered 46 sacks of heroin hidden among bags of cement.

HMAS Darwin's Commander Terry Morrison said the seizure removed a major source of funding for terrorist and criminal networks.

"The search tested the steel of Darwin's boarding parties who were working in difficult conditions throughout the night," he said in a statement.

Darwin is taking part in the British-led Combined Task Force 150.

It's one of three multinational task forces conducting security and counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf region.

Coalition Maritime Force director of operations, Australian captain Craig Powell, said the heroin haul was the largest in the history of the CMF, with a street value of about $289 million.

Australian warships have destroyed large quantities of heroin, hashish and amphetamines during patrols off Africa in the past year.

Drugs are destroyed by dumping them in the sea, and crews of smuggling vessels are sent on their way.

Re: HMAS Darwin makes record $290m heroin bust

azureline** — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 09:10:43 GMT

My nephew is on that ship.

Re: HMAS Darwin makes record $290m heroin bust

acacia_pycnantha — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:57:12 GMT

The record 1032-kilogram haul was discovered aboard a dhow in the Indian Ocean, about 27 nautical miles east of Mombasa, . . . .

27 nautical miles east of Mombassa? Wouldn't that indicate that the dhow was in internantional waters?

By what authority under international law did this Australian naval vessel stop and search this dhow? And even if there were drugs aboard, which country has the authority to prosecute?

Just a point of law I don't quite understand.

Re: HMAS Darwin makes record $290m heroin bust

azureline** — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 21:49:20 GMT

Darwin is taking part in the British-led Combined Task Force 150.

It's one of three multinational task forces conducting security and counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf region.

Re: HMAS Darwin makes record $290m heroin bust

azureline** — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 21:53:42 GMT

Darwin is taking part in the British-led Combined Task Force 150.

It's one of three multinational task forces conducting security and counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf region.