On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, the US 5th Fleet announced the seizure of $85 million worth of heroin after an attack on a fishing vessel while on patrol in the Gulf of Oman.
“This operation represents the largest narcotics interception in the Middle East by an international naval force this year,” the 5th Fleet tweeted.
“This operation demonstrates the deep commitment of our international partners to disrupt and deter destabilizing activities in the region,” said Brad Cooper, commander of US Navy Central Command and 5th Fleet.
A @USCG Quick Cut Rapid Response seizes approximately $85 million worth of heroin from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman. 27, the largest illegal drug interdiction in the Middle East by international maritime forces this year.
Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/cMapYI2vy4 pic.twitter.com/33jRVtyX8m
— US Navy Central Command / US 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) September 27, 2022
According to the Associated Press, according to a UN report published in 2020, heroin is smuggled by land from Iran and Afghanistan through worn-out land routes in the Balkans, South Caucasus mountains or Saudi Arabia to the Middle East and even Europe.
The report adds that smugglers from Iran are increasingly turning to the sea to bring heroin to South Asia, and Iranian and Pakistani sailors are often arrested near Sri Lanka.
Source: Lebanon Debate
