Aust warship seizes 427 kg of heroin

An Australian warship has seized 427 kilograms of heroin from a smuggling vessel it intercepted in the Indian Ocean.

Chief of defence force joint operations Vice Admiral David Johnston said last Friday a boarding party from HMAS Melbourne found the drugs, worth an estimated $126 million, in a hidden compartment on the suspect fishing vessel.

Many of the illegal drugs intercepted by Australian ships originate in Afghanistan and Pakistan and their sale generates income for terrorist organisations.