Pakistan Navy foils drug smuggling bid in Arabian Sea

• PNS Aslat seizes drugs worth thousands of dollars in int'l market.
• PM Shehbaz Sharif appreciates crew members of PNS Aslat
• ISPR says successful operation result of effective sea surveillance.

Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Aslat on Tuesday apprehended a vessel carrying huge cache of narcotics in the north Arabian Sea during a regional maritime security patrol, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.

As per the military's media wing, the seized drugs were worth thousands of dollars in the international market. 

A brief statement released by the ISPR said that the successful operation against drug smuggling was the result of effective surveillance at sea by Pakistan Navy.

"Naval warships of Pakistan Navy regularly perform duties on regional maritime security [atrol to prevent drug smuggling, piracy and human trafficking at sea," it added. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the efforts of Pakistan Navy in thwarting narcotics smuggling attempt in the Arabian Sea. 

The prime minister appreciated the crew members including officers and personnel of PNS Aslat for intercepting the vessel used for drug smuggling, PM Office Media Wing said in an statement. 

"Pakistan Navy had been working round the clock to safeguarding the maritime frontiers; and controlling pirates and human smuggling, he observed."

The prime minister further stated that he along with the entire nation lauded the officers and personnel of Pakistan Navy, who had been performing duties away from their near and dear ones.

Pakistan Navy had deployed the PNS Aslat warship in the Indian Ocean for regional maritime security patrol activities to ensure the safety of merchant ships, last week. 

This ship is equipped with the latest weapons and sensors, capable of dealing with multi-dimensional threats and conducting a wide range of maritime operations.

An official statement issued by the navy said that the warship would ensure the safety of merchant ships entering and leaving Pakistani ports with dedicated helicopters.