India, Oct. 26 -- Pakistan's navy has recently announced what it called one of the largest narcotics seizures in its history: nearly US $1 billion worth of drugs intercepted aboard two dhows in the Arabian Sea. The operation, carried out under the Saudi-led Combined Task Force 150-part of the U.S.-backed Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)-was quickly hailed as a triumph of international cooperation.

According to CMF's official statement, the first dhow was boarded on October 18 and found to be carrying more than two metric tons of crystal methamphetamine, estimated to be worth $822 million. Less than 48 hours later, a second dhow was intercepted, yielding 350 kilograms of meth and 50 kilograms of cocaine valued at a combined $150 million. Bo...