HMAS DARWIN SEIZES LARGE WEAPONS HAUL

Darwin intercepted the vessel approximately 313 kilometres off the coast of Oman to conduct a flag verification boarding.

The team are operating under the Australian-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF150), which is responsible for counter-terrorism operations within the region.

After assessing the vessel to be stateless, a number of weapons, including 1989 AK-47 assault rifles, 100 rocket propelled grenade launchers, 49 PKM general-purpose machine guns, 39 PKM spare barrels and 20 60mm mortar tubes were seized from the vessel that was headed towards the Somalia coast.

The weapons were seized under United Nations sanctions, which authorise interdiction on the high seas of illicit weapons destined for Somalia.

Source: Abc.net.au