201218-N-NO146-1001 North Arabian Sea (Dec. 18, 2020)

201218-N-NO146-1001 North Arabian Sea (Dec. 18, 2020) The guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73), deployed to U.S. Fifth Fleet and operating in direct support to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) CTF-150, observe as a visit, board, search and seize (VBSS) team interdicts a stateless dhow suspected of narcotics smuggling in the international waters of the North Arabian Sea, Dec. 18. CMF is a multinational maritime partnership which exists to counter illicit non-state actors on the high seas, promoting security, stability and prosperity in the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. CTF 150 conducts maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf to disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations, ensuring legitimate commercial shipping can transit the region free from non-state threats. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo)