Sunday, June 15, 2025
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result
Home Defence & Military News

RAF Reaper Team Uncovers Afghan Drugs Haul

by UK Ministry of Defence
August 23, 2012
in Defence & Military News
2 min read
0
US vacates air base in Pakistan to meet deadline
14
VIEWS

An RAF team has uncovered a huge stash of drugs in a truck in Afghanistan using a Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS).

Members of 39 Squadron (39 Sqn) were supporting the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in identifying drug traffickers transiting through southern Helmand.

During the mission, 39 Sqn were directed to a suspect vehicle which later met up with a pick-up truck. 39 Sqn used their Reaper RPAS to observe from above that the flatbed section of the truck was too shallow for a normal vehicle and as a result probably contained a hidden compartment.

Using the Reaper, the team from 39 Sqn tracked both vehicles, enabling ANSF and USMC personnel to intercept them safely.

As a direct result of the work the RAF team did, 1,280kg of dry opium and 59kg of refined heroin was found hidden within the vehicles. Four weapons were also confiscated and the drug traffickers involved were detained.

The US street price for the heroin alone was estimated at $14,750,000, and 39 Sqn were involved in the interdiction of a further two vehicles where 860kg of dry opium was discovered. The narcotics were destroyed on site.

So far, this narcotics operation has denied criminal gangs approximately $10m (at local Afghan prices) in funding.

Officer Commanding 39 Sqn, Wing Commander Andy Bird, said:

“The pick-up truck looked heavy and the flatbed at the rear seemed too shallow, so it aroused our suspicions. This is exactly the sort of indicator that our personnel are trained to identify.

“We were able to work closely with coalition troops who seized weapons and a large haul of opium and heroin worth millions of dollars. We were delighted, as this sort of success deprives the Taliban of resources and it helps keep drugs off the streets of the UK too.

“It was a very good spot indeed and I was very proud of the whole team. We are contributing directly to bringing stability to Afghanistan as we prepare to hand over responsibility to the Afghan security forces.”

The Reaper is a medium-to-high-altitude, long-endurance RPAS and its primary mission is as an intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance asset. Its sensors provide real-time data to commanders and intelligence specialists at all levels.

Its secondary mission is to attack targets in the battlespace and also to provide close air support options to the unit being supported by the Reaper and its remote crew.

Wg Cdr Bird added:

“The Reaper is a really flexible system – we can be airborne for up to 20 hours, building up a detailed picture of what is happening on the ground. If needed, we have sophisticated weapons which can be precisely targeted.

“One of our main jobs is spotting insurgents who might be targeting troops on the ground with improvised explosive devices. We are their ‘eyes in the sky’ – we do everything we can to enable coalition troops to conduct their important missions as safely as possible.

“Although we are remote from the battlefield, there is always a team of RAF personnel involved in flying every mission. We take real pride in our mission, which is to support troops on the ground.”

The RAF team operates the Reaper remotely from Creech Air Force Base in the United States.

Tags: afghanistandrugsRAFReaperroyal air forceUnmanned Aerial Vehiclewar
Previous Post

Denmark’s Three New Frigates Meet At Sea

Next Post

Australia Legislation to Ban Cluster Munitions

Related Posts

Britain, Germany jointly developing missiles: ministers

Britain, Germany jointly developing missiles: ministers

May 17, 2025

Britain and Germany are working together to develop strike missiles, their defence ministers said Thursday, as Russia's war rages in...

Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

May 10, 2025

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after days of deadly jet fighter,...

Next Post
Nammo to Demilitarize Cluster Weapons for Norway

Australia Legislation to Ban Cluster Munitions

Latest Defense News

Britain, Germany jointly developing missiles: ministers

Britain, Germany jointly developing missiles: ministers

May 17, 2025
Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

May 10, 2025
Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals

Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals

May 10, 2025
J-10C fighter jet

Pakistan says India has brought neighbours ‘closer to major conflict’

May 9, 2025
North Korea fires multiple suspected cruise missiles

North Korea fires flurry of short-range ballistic missiles

May 9, 2025
China says ‘closely watching’ Ukraine situation after Russian attack

China vows to stand with Russia in face of ‘hegemonic bullying’

May 9, 2025

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Unmanned and Autonomous Air Vehicles
  • The Royal Navy Discussions and Updates
  • Middle East Defence & Security
  • The Indonesian Army
  • Indonesian Aero News
  • European Union, member states and Agencies
  • Taiwan Navy News and Developments
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) News and Discussions
  • USAF News and Discussion
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com