A Royal Navy frigate and embarked Royal Marines intercepted and seized more than £35 million worth of illegal narcotics after disabling a high-speed smuggling skiff in the Gulf of Oman on 12 October 2025, the Ministry of Defence said.
The operation began when the Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster’s Wildcat helicopter detected three suspicious skiffs during a routine patrol. A Peregrine rotary-wing uncrewed aerial system (RWUAS) was then used to covertly track the boats while the Wildcat returned to the ship to refuel, the MoD said.
During the pursuit, a Maritime Sniper Team from 42 Commando placed a precision, disabling shot on the engine of one skiff from the Wildcat — a tactic the MoD described as “surgical” and non-lethal — bringing the vessel to a halt so boarding teams could intervene.
Boarding parties subsequently recovered more than 1.5 tonnes of suspected Class A drugs including heroin and crystal methamphetamine, along with cannabis concentrate, according to multiple reports summarising the seizure. The haul’s estimated street value was given as about £35 million.
Officials framed the interception as part of an ongoing effort by UK maritime forces to disrupt international drug trafficking in the Gulf region. The Defence Ministry and political figures praised the crew and embarked forces for their coordination and precision, while local reporting noted the operation’s use of combined manned and unmanned aviation assets as a force multiplier.
No further details about suspects, arrests, or the cargo’s intended destination were released immediately. The MoD said inquiries and follow-on investigations were under way with partner agencies to trace the shipment’s provenance and any wider criminal networks involved.
English