The Royal Navy has seized more than £33 million worth of illegal drugs in the Middle East after two busts inside 24 hours.
HMS Lancaster intercepted smugglers in the Indian Ocean who were trying to move 3.7 tonnes of heroin, hashish and crystal meth.
The crew of the Lancaster, aided by the Royal Marines, captured two suspect vessels during an undated operation as part of a Canadian-led task force aimed at stopping criminal activity in the Middle East.
More than two tonnes of the drugs have now been destroyed after Marines and Navy sailors posed for a photograph of their haul on the deck of the Lancaster.
It comes a few weeks after the HMS Trent seized about £17 million worth of illegal drugs on an operation in the Caribbean.
Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, paid tribute to the “fantastic achievements” of the crew of HMS Lancaster and the Royal Marines.
“The Royal Navy continue to lead the UK’s commitment to disrupting drug smugglers across the globe,” he said.
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