CFB Esquimalt-based HMCS Regina has made its fourth large drug bust in a month, bringing the total seized to nine tonnes.

On Friday, a boarding party apprehended a suspicious ship while patrolling the waters of the Gulf of Oman and discovered more than two tonnes of hashish hidden on board.

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The Halifax-class frigate, with about 250 sailors and aviators on board, is in the Middle East as part of Operation Artemis.

Canada is part of a partnership of 30 nations that works together to discourage and stop terrorist groups from smuggling weapons, unlawful cargo and drugs.

“These seizures continue to ensure that profits made from selling illegally smuggled narcotics are staying out of the pockets of terrorist and criminal organizations, while also protecting the legitimate and global trade that Canada and the world depend on,” says a post on the Canadian Armed Forces Operations Facebook page.

Other seizures include 1.5 tonnes of hashish and 10.5 kilograms of heroin on April 18, three tonnes of hashish on April 15 and more than 2.5 tonnes of hashish on April 6.

HMCS Regina left Esquimalt on Feb. 6 on a seven-month deployment.

Also on board is a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter on its first operational deployment. The vessel was accompanied by the supply ship Asterix, with a CP-140 Aurora providing airborne maritime surveillance.