A Royal Navy warship based in Plymouth has successfully intercepted three small boats carrying an estimated £35 million worth of illegal narcotics in the Gulf of Oman. The dramatic operation involved precision tactics and the deployment of commando snipers from 42 Commando Royal Marines, who used non-lethal force to disable the vessels as they attempted to flee.
The interception was carried out by HMS Lancaster, which has been operating out of the Royal Navy’s Middle East headquarters in Bahrain since late 2022. The ship’s crew coordinated with a Wildcat helicopter and a Maritime Sniper Team from Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth — marking the first time such non-lethal tactics were used in this area.
According to the Royal Navy, the three suspect boats tried to dump their cargo and escape. Two were abandoned at sea, while the third was immobilized after snipers disabled its engine. When boarding teams reached the vessel, they discovered more than 1.5 tonnes of narcotics, including heroin, crystal methamphetamine, and cannabis resin.
Commander Sam Stephens, commanding officer of HMS Lancaster, praised the success of the multinational operation. “This mission showcased the seamless coordination between our crewed and uncrewed aircraft under the direction of the operations team,” he said. “The result was a highly successful seizure that prevented millions of pounds’ worth of drugs from reaching global markets and stopped the profits from fuelling criminal and extremist activity.”