In a move to bust a suspected drug smuggling ship, heavily armed commandos were dispatched to inspect the ship sailing off the New South Wales coast.
The group of elite soldiers was onboard the Australian Navy’s guided missile frigate HMAS Newcastle when they were tasked by the Border Protection to assist them with the operation.
It was reported by the Defense sources that the suspected vessel is an Australian chartered Chinese ship which employed Vietnamese crew.
This incident is deemed to be resonant of the 2003 military takeover of the North Korean cargo vessel that was intercepted and its crew was arrested after they were attempting to smuggle heroin into Australia.
Defence Minister Marise Payne said investigations were ongoing. He said that “My understanding is it’s a police operation with ADF support and as they are operational matters I won’t expand on that”.
The Australian Federal Police issued a statement they were aware of a police operation in the Sydney area, and media reports about a ship being sent “to intercept a suspected drug-smuggling boat. This activity is not related to any national security matters or any current or impending threat to the community. As this matter is ongoing, it is not appropriate to provide further comment.”
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Source: ABC
