US Navy Makes ‘Illicit’ Discovery on Iranian Smuggling Vessel
The U.S. Navy seized thousands of AK-47 rifles after stopping a suspected smuggling vessel on its way from Iran to Yemen, the Navy confirmed Tuesday.
The Navy said the USS Chinook deployed a team to a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman, discovering a crew of Yemeni nationals. There, naval officials found about 2,116 AK-47s and confiscated them, according to a statement.
“This shipment is part of a continued pattern of destabilizing activity from Iran,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “These threats have our attention. We remain vigilant in detecting any maritime activity that impedes freedom of navigation or compromises regional security.”…