New Zealand to lead maritime drug interception team in Middle East and Indian Ocean

Commodore Rodger Ward, from South Wairarapa, will command Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), dedicated to interceptions of vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the international waters of the Middle East and northern Indian Ocean.

It is part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) coalition safeguarding maritime security throughout the Gulf regions. Counter-terrorism is one of the coalition’s primary missions, since terrorist organisations are commonly funded through criminal activities such as smuggling narcotics.

For the first time in nine years, a Royal New Zealand Navy frigate will take part. HMNZS Te Kaha will join CTF 150 and be directed to intercept vessels suspected of smuggling.

The last time a New Zealand frigate deployed for this role was in 2015, when Te Kaha operated under a French-led CTF 150. 

Another first is the deployment of a Royal New Zealand Navy Mine Counter Measures Task Unit from HMNZS Matataua to the region. The team will consist of specialist mine clearance divers, hydrographers and autonomous systems to undertake mine countermeasures and clearance operations from May to December.

It is the second time New Zealand has commanded CTF 150, with Commodore Ward taking up his six-month appointment in January, headquartered in Bahrain.

Commodore Ward said his appointment was both an honour and a privilege and he was looking forward to it.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Royal New Zealand Navy to demonstrate our ability to lead and conduct expeditionary maritime security operations, while developing partnerships with other nations,” he said.

He follows in the footsteps of the first New Zealander to command CTF 150, Captain Brendon Clark in 2021. During that tenure CTF 150 intercepted 14 suspect vessels, with more than $NZ3 billion of drugs seized and destroyed.

It was tempting to measure success through drug interceptions, Commodore Ward said. 

“But the real success would be if the drugs weren’t going on the water, and where criminals decide not to move drugs over the water, because the maritime security is too great. As an information warfare specialist, I look at it in terms of effects, as well as the actual actions.”

Another big plus is developing the next generation of sailors and leaders by exposing them to contemporary maritime security operations in a complex operating environment. 

“This is awesome exposure for our people,” he said.

“I think of it as a home and away game. We’re playing an away game in the Middle East, in order to develop the skills to play and win the home game.

“The Pacific is getting more complex, so we have to go somewhere to learn these skills, in order to be prepared at home.”

Having Te Kaha in direct support was tremendous but it would not be alone, he said. 

“There will be other assets available to work for us, to give us more ability to coordinate the maritime security and maximise the interdiction effect.

“The drug busts will be important. But for me the satisfaction will be seeing our people learn, getting to work with other nations, and demonstrating that as a small nation, we can go to the other side of the world and do the job, and do it well.”

Commodore Ward joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1987 as a midshipman. He has served in Royal New Zealand Navy vessels as a warfare officer, including a posting as Operations Officer in Te Kaha in the Arabian Sea in 1999.  

Commodore Ward has since specialised in communication and information warfare, been a directing staff officer at the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College in Kuala Lumpur, Operations Commander at Joint Forces Headquarters New Zealand and Defence Adviser to Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Myanmar, and Chief of Information Warfare, New Zealand Defence Force.