Australian sailors have seized a large weapons cache, including almost 2000 AK-47 assault rifles, from a fishing vessel in the Middle East.

HMAS Darwin's boarding team intercepted the fishing vessel about 300 kilometres off the coast of Oman and found 1989 AK-47 assault rifles along with 100 rocket propelled grenade launchers, 49 machine guns, spare barrels and mortar tubes hidden under fishing nets in the dhow.

Weapons seized by HMAS Darwin about 300 kilometres off the coast of Oman. Credit:ABIS Sarah Ebsworth

The weapons were seized under United Nations sanctions which authorise interdiction on the high seas of illicit weapons destined for Somalia.

The fishing boat was headed towards the Somalia coast.



Chief of Joint Operations Command, Vice Admiral David Johnston, said the seizure on Darwin's first patrol was highly significant.



"One of the key reasons HMAS Darwin is deployed to the region is to contribute to global security and counter international terrorism," Vice Admiral Johnston said.