HMS Monmouth seizes £65M of heroin and cannabis in major drugs bust

Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth has seized £65m of cannabis and heroin from a suspect vessel in the Indian Ocean, dealing a major blow to the funding of terrorism.

Sailors and Royal Marines from the Type 23 frigate destroyed 455kg of cannabis and 266kg of heroin after finding it hidden in the freezer of a fishing boat.

The suspicious dhow - a type of vessel common to the Middle East and Indian Ocean - had been spotted by the ship in an area not normally known for fishing.

Swooping into action before the smugglers could destroy any evidence, HMS Monmouth sent two boarding teams in fast rigid inflatable boats to intercept the dhow.

The teams spent 60 hours painstakingly scouring the vessel for narcotics, before eventually finding them hidden in a freezer beneath three tonnes of ice.

Commander Ian Feasey, HMS Monmouth's Commanding Officer, said: "Such a substantial seizure of drugs will deal a significant blow to the international narcotics trade which is known to provide funding for terrorist organisations.

"I am extremely proud of the professionalism, diligence and perseverance of my boarding team to achieve a result in such arduous conditions. This has been an effort by the whole ship's company and their efforts speak volumes about the Royal Navy's ability and commitment to preventing illegal activity on the high seas."