Aden – The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) announced Tuesday the seizure of a new shipment of illicit narcotics valued at more than $142 million from multiple vessels in the Arabian Sea, south of Yemen.

In a press release, CMF said two French frigates, operating under the direct support of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) led by Saudi Arabia, intercepted and confiscated the narcotics during routine maritime patrols over several weeks.

According to the statement, the frigates targeted several suspicious dhows that were not transmitting signals through the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and displayed no external markings to indicate their identity.

The CMF emphasized that the operation reflects ongoing multinational efforts to combat illicit trafficking and enhance maritime security in one of the world’s most strategic waterways.