10 April 2025
HMNZS Te Kaha gets to work in the Indian Ocean alongside naval partners
Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha has begun its anti-smuggling work in the Indian Ocean as part of the New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) in the Middle East.
Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha has begun its anti-smuggling work in the Indian Ocean as part of the New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) in the Middle East.
Te Kaha is on a deployment to the Middle East in support of CTF 150, one of five international combined task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain.
CTF 150’s area of operation covers 3.2 million square kilometres of ocean and focuses on the disruption of narcotic smuggling operations.
CTF 150 recently partnered with the Red Sea-based and Australian-led CTF 153 to conduct a joint focused operation called Anzac Tiger, during which the New Zealand crew seized a small amount of narcotics.
As part of Anzac Tiger, a range of intelligence organisations collaborated to identify contacts of interest. CTF 150 headquarters then tasked surface ships and air assets to investigate further.
“Operation Anzac Tiger was our introduction to operations in support of CTF 150 this year,” said Te Kaha commanding officer, Commander Fiona Jameson.
Six suspected vessels were boarding as part of Operation Anzac Tiger, where HMNZS Te Kaha started its work as part of CTF 150 in the Indian Ocean
After receiving the task, the ship’s Seasprite helicopter and other task group air assets were used to visually identify the contact, confirm the position and observe their activities.
“When the patterns of life demonstrate suspicious activity, that’s our cue to deploy the boarding team to go and take a closer look,” Commander Jameson said.
Six boardings were carried out, resulting in one major seizure by Indian Navy Ship Tarkash crew and a small seizure, 1kg of heroin, by Te Kaha crew.
A total of 2508kg of narcotics were seized, including 2386kg of hashish and 122kg of heroin, taking the total value of narcotics seized to $NZ661 million since New Zealand took command of CTF 150 in January.
The operation also offered the opportunity for an at-sea personnel exchange between Te Kaha and Tarkash. Six crew members visit the other nation’s ship for the day and conducted combined training and learned more about operating together.
NS Tarkash (foreground) and HMNZ Te Kaha crews have been working closely together and exchanging crew during anti-smuggling operations.
