US coastguard seizes $80m worth of heroin in Gulf of Oman

The confiscation of two tonnes of narcotics is the second this week

Bags of drugs sit on the deck of a fishing vessel seized by US coastguard in the Gulf of Oman. Reuters

The US coastguard has seized $80 million worth of heroin from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman, America's Central Command has said.

Wednesday's seizure of the contraband — about two tonnes in total — was the second by the USCGC Glen Harris this week.

The ship was raided as it transited international waters after departing from Chah Bahar in Iran.

“Glen Harris also seized $30 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin two days ago from another fishing vessel that departed the same port,” the Central Command said.

US authorities impounded 580kg of methamphetamine and 35kg of heroin on May 8.

Lt Nick Jabs, the Glen Harris’s commanding officer, said he was “very proud” of his team for what they had accomplished.

“We’re out here to work with regional partners and disrupt any destabilising maritime activity at sea. We will continue getting after it.”

The Glen Harris cutter, a Sentinel class ship, arrived in the region last year. Designed for search and rescue operations, it can also intercept drug-smuggling boats.

The vessel can sail at up to 52kph and, with its red and white coastguard colours, resembles a civilian boat. However, it comes armed with a remote-controlled 25mm cannon capable of firing 200 explosive shells a minute.

The Central Command said that the navy's Combined Task Force 150 had seized illegal narcotics worth $200 million in street value so far this year.