United Press International
01-02-2004
Drug ship seized in Arabian Sea

WASHINGTON, Jan 02, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- U.S. and Australian naval forces Thursday seized a vessel in the north Arabian Sea with 2,800 pounds of hashish believed to be linked to al-Qaida.

It is the third such vessel stopped in three weeks, U.S. military sources said Friday. The hashish has a street value of about $11 million. U.S. intelligence officials believe al-Qaida is funding some of its activities with proceeds from narcotics.

The USS Peleliu captured the vessel and detained 15 crew members. On Dec. 15 the USS Decatur seized a ...