It reads like this was a Hollywood production.

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Oct 14, 2025, 4:08:55 PM (4 days ago) Oct 14

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HMS Lancaster Gulf patrol – sniper shot from Wildcat halts drug boat

MARITIME NEWS 12 OCTOBER 2025

Skiffs monitored by Peregrine RWUAS.

HMS Lancaster has intercepted a major narcotics shipment in the Gulf of Oman, with over £35 million worth of

illegal drugs recovered after a high-speed skiff was stopped by Royal Marine snipers.

The action began at dawn with the launch of Lancaster’s 815 NAS Wildcat helicopter to conduct routine

overwatch. The crew identified three skiffs travelling at speed and began covertly tracking them. Intelligence

was relayed back to the frigate, enabling the launch of the ship’s Peregrine RWUAS to maintain undetected

surveillance, feeding live imagery directly to the operations room.

After returning to refuel and embark a Maritime Sniper Team from 42 Commando, the Wildcat rejoined the

scene and closed in for the intercept. On sighting the helicopter, the skiff crews accelerated to more than 40

knots and began discarding packages into the sea. Two of the craft were abandoned, but one continued to

flee. Royal Marines engaged using disabling fire, striking the engine with a single round to bring the vessel to

a stop. Lancaster’s sea boats recovered the drifting narcotics and located a partially submerged abandoned

skiff.

The operation resulted in the seizure of more than 1.5 tonnes of heroin, crystal methamphetamine, and

hashish. This marks the second significant haul by HMS Lancaster in 2025, following a £30 million drugs

seizure in May. It is also the first known use of non-lethal disabling fire by Royal Marines in the Gulf region, a

technique more commonly used in counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean.

HMS Lancaster is expected to return to the UK soon and finally decommission in November. It is possible she

will be replaced in the Gulf by a Batch II OPV. Source: Navy Lookout 12/10

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