VANCOUVER – The Department of National Defence is heralding the crew of HMCS Toronto for its participation in another major narcotics bust at sea.
On May 30, naval forces boarded a vessel in the Arabian Sea, as a part of an international counter-terrorism operation, and seized about six tonnes of hashish.
DND said HMCS Toronto has disrupted five drug shipments since March and this one is “by far the largest.”
Prior to the May 30 operation, the crew has made four heroin seizures, one of which netted the largest amount of heroin ever seized at sea.
“Their efforts represent Canada’s continuing dedication toward ensuring a secure maritime environment for legitimate mariners in the region,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement on Wednesday.
DND said drug smuggling operations are a “recognized source of funding for terrorism organizations.”
Since departing Halifax in January, HMCS Toronto and its estimated 225 crew members have been taking part in a Combined Maritime Forces counter-terrorism mission, called Operation Artemis.
Navy forces from 29 countries have been involved in the Combined Maritime Force efforts to combat terrorism and related activities in the Indian Ocean and the waters off the Middle East.
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