$280m cannabis drug haul seized

Australian naval officers have seized 5.6 tonnes of cannabis from a boat off the coast of Somalia.

Members of HMAS Toowoomba's teams with 5.6 tonnes of cannabis

Australian naval officers have seized more than five tonnes of cannabis off the coast of Somalia. (AAP)

Australian authorities have seized 5.6 tonnes of cannabis, worth $280 million, from a boat off the coast of Somalia.

The haul was discovered after a five-day operation, 260 km off the coast of Africa, involving Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion.

Australian navy officers found the cannabis in hessian bags stowed in hidden compartments.

HMAS Toowoomba is deployed to the Middle East and Indian Ocean region as part as maritime security operations aimed at combating illegal activities used to fund terrorism.


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