SYDNEY, Feb 08, 2014 (AFP) - The Australian navy said Saturday it seized and destroyed 353 kilogrammes of heroin with an estimated street value of more than Aus$700 million (US$627 million) in a mission off the coast of Tanzania.
HMAS Melbourne discovered the haul when crew boarded a vessel on Wednesday as part of a mission "in support of deterring terrorism and promoting peace and security in the maritime regions of the Middle East and Indian Ocean".
The navy said the material was tested and it returned a positive reading for heroin. A team from the frigate seized the drugs, took samples and destroyed the remainder.
Australian Commodore Daryl Bates said it was a blow for the funding of terrorist networks.
"Melbourne has once again demonstrated how beneficial Australia's commitment is to the Indian Ocean region and the fight against international terrorism and violent extremism," he said in a statement.
"During her time with Combined Maritime Forces, she has successfully disrupted a piracy attack, and conducted four successful narcotics seizures, seizing 23.8 kilogrammes of methamphetamines and now 353 kilogrammes of heroin.
"These seizures have severely impacted the funding network of those terrorist organisations that rely on these shipments for income."
Combined Maritime Forces is a multi-national naval partnership, which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 2.5 million square miles of international waters.
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