HMS Diamond deployed to tackle arms trafficking

Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond is set to sail to the southern Mediterranean to join an operation aimed at countering arms trafficking.

The vessel will join Operation Sophia for an estimated two months, and will combat both human smugglers and arms traffickers. HMS Diamond will provide a picture-building capability to help enforce the UN Security Council Resolution prohibiting the trafficking of arms to Libya.

HMS Diamond’s Commanding Officer, Commander Marcus Hember, said: “I’m proud that we will join the operation and make a contribution to tackling the movement of illegal arms around the region.