HMS Dragon deals second blow to drug runners with £1.6m narcotics seizure

HMS Dragon has dealt another hammer blow to drug funding of terrorism with her second major narcotics bust in under a fortnight.

Marines and commandos on board the ship, which is based in Portsmouth, seized drugs worth £1.6 million.

The Type 45 destroyer pounced on a sailing vessel known as a dhow to uncover a half-tonne haul of heroin and hashish and 9kg of crystal meth.

The ship was patrolling the route between Iran, Pakistan and East Africa when one of her officers - Lieutenant Jonathan Bennett - spied a "suspicious" looking dhow far from the usual shipping lanes at the weekend.

It's believed the drugs haul, which is estimated to be worth at least £1.6m, would have been sold for much more money on British streets had it reached these shores.

The narcotics, which were seized during a 12-hour operation, were later destroyed by the ship's crew

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson praised HMS Dragon's "capability" and the Navy's role in thwarting drug smuggling.

HMS Dragon will be away over the Christmas period as she continues to patrol the high seas.