KARACHI - The Pakistan Navy has delivered a crushing blow to international drug trafficking networks, seizing narcotics worth an estimated $1.3 billion in 2025 through a series of intelligence-driven maritime operations conducted both within and beyond Pakistan's territorial waters, the Navy spokesperson announced on Thursday .
In a comprehensive briefing highlighting Pakistan Navy's role as a regional maritime security provider, the spokesperson detailed how the force has not only protected Pakistan's national interests but has also safeguarded future generations regionally and globally from the scourge of illegal narcotics.
"We did this through intelligence surveillance even outside our waters. We did it not only for our generation but for others as well," the Navy spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson's announcement comes after a year of unprecedented success by Pakistan Navy ships operating under multinational frameworks. The total estimated value of intercepted narcotics in 2025 has reached approximately $1.3 billion, marking the most successful year in Pakistan's maritime counter-narcotics history.
| Date | Vessel | Narcotics Seized | Estimated Value | Framework |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | PNS Yarmouk | Multiple sailboats | $972 million | Saudi-led CTF-150 |
| November 2025 | PNS Tabuk | 2,000+ kg Methamphetamine (ICE) | $130 million | Combined Task Force 150 |
| December 2025 | PMSA-led Joint Op | 500 kg Methamphetamine + 3,500 liquor bottles | $132 million | JMICC Intelligence-Based Operation |
| July 2025 | Multiple Agencies | 500+ kg Hashish & Crystal Ice | Rs 1 billion+ | Pakistan Navy/PMSA Joint Op |
| December 2025 | PNS Yamama | 1,500 kg Hashish | $3 million | Regional Maritime Security Patrol |
| TOTAL 2025 | Multiple Operations | Various | ~$1.3 Billion | Combined Forces |
In what the Navy described as its third consecutive successful interdiction in two months, PNS Tabuk - operating under the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) - intercepted a suspicious stateless dhow in the North Arabian Sea in November 2025. The ship subsequently seized over 2,000 kilograms of methamphetamine (ICE) with an estimated regional wholesale value of $130 million .
CTF-150 is one of four task forces under the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a 39-nation coalition including the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other partners. The task force focuses specifically on maritime security and counter-terrorism operations outside the Arabian Gulf, aiming to disrupt the financial flows of militant and criminal organizations that rely on drug trafficking routes between Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, East Africa, and the Gulf .
A Pakistan Navy spokesperson for the Directorate General of Public Relations (Navy) released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, confirming that the seizure had a massive regional wholesale value of $130 million and represented Pakistan's determination to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) while contributing to global maritime security .
The largest seizure of the year - and one of the largest in maritime history - was conducted by PNS Yarmouk in October 2025. The ship intercepted and searched multiple sailboats in the North Arabian Sea, leading to the confiscation of drugs worth approximately $972 million .
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the operation was carried out under the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150). The success was lauded by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, who praised the crew for their professionalism, determination, and commitment to global maritime security .
Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the Pakistan Navy on the operation, describing it as a "moment of pride for the entire nation" and stating that the force would continue playing a crucial role in the fight against drug trafficking .
The final month of 2025 saw two significant operations.
A joint intelligence-based counter-narcotics operation conducted by the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), and the Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Gadani, foiled a major smuggling attempt near Gadani, Balochistan. The teams seized 500 kilograms of Methamphetamine (ICE) and 3,500 bottles of foreign liquor with an estimated international market value of $132 million (approximately Rs. 37 billion). Acting on precise and actionable intelligence, the joint team intercepted the illicit consignments during coordinated maritime operations conducted under the coordination framework of the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center (JMICC) .
Earlier in December, PNS Yamama, deployed on Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP), seized 1,500 kilograms of hashish valued at nearly $3 million, reaffirming the Navy's steadfast commitment to countering illicit activities and ensuring a secure maritime environment .
The magnitude of the 2025 seizures is staggering. Combined, the total value exceeds the defense budgets of several smaller nations. The success is not accidental. The Navy spokesperson emphasized that these operations were not merely defensive but proactive, projecting force and surveillance capabilities beyond Pakistan's waters to intercept threats before they could reach Pakistani shores or international markets.
The statement by the Navy spokesperson underscores a fundamental shift in Pakistan's maritime doctrine: the Navy acts as a regional protector, combating transnational crime to benefit the entire global community. By conducting operations in international waters, the Pakistan Navy is actively dismantling trafficking routes that fuel insurgencies, destabilize economies, and destroy lives across the globe.
The spokesperson's assertion that the Navy acted "not only for our generation but for others as well" signals Pakistan's understanding that drug money from these shipments often finances terrorism and organized crime. Intercepting these shipments disrupts the financial lifelines of criminal networks worldwide.
The majority of these successful operations were conducted under the framework of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) , led by Saudi Arabia. This highlights the growing naval cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the effectiveness of intelligence sharing among 39 member nations .
The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) provides a platform for Pakistan to integrate its capabilities with those of the US, UK, and other regional powers, enhancing interoperability and intelligence exchange. The Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center (JMICC) further strengthens domestic inter-agency cooperation among Pakistan's Navy, PMSA, Customs, and Excise departments .
While the Pakistan Navy celebrates these historic successes, the combined value of the seizures - $1.3 billion - is also a testament to the immense volume of narcotics flowing through the Arabian Sea. These massive drug shipments would have funded criminal empires, fueled addiction in vulnerable communities, and destabilized regions had they not been intercepted.
The Navy spokesperson's warning is clear: Pakistan is on the front lines of a global war, and without constant vigilance, the consequences for the region and the world would have been catastrophic.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf have all extended congratulations to the officers and personnel involved in these operations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the officers and personnel of the Pakistan Navy are "proving their ironcladness all over the world with their professional skills" and that the entire nation is proud of them .
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf praised the crews of PNS Yarmouk, PNS Tabuk, and PNS Yamama for their professionalism and determination, reinforcing that the Pakistan Navy remains steadfast in its resolve to protect national maritime interests and ensure stability in the region .
As the Navy spokesperson concludes, Pakistan remains committed to being the REGIONAL PROTECTOR. Through continued investment in intelligence capabilities, maritime patrol assets, and international partnerships, the Pakistan Navy is determined to ensure that no drug shipment finds safe passage.
The message from the Navy is clear: Pakistan is not just defending its own shores; it is protecting the world.
