Commandos sent to intercept suspected drug-smuggling ship off NSW coast
The elite soldiers were on board the Navy's guided missile frigate HMAS Newcastle, which had been tasked by Border Protection to help with the operation.
Defence sources have told the ABC the target vessel is believed to be an Australian chartered Chinese ship which is using Vietnamese crew.
The incident is reminiscent of the 2003 military takeover of the North Korean cargo ship Pong Su, which was intercepted and its crew arrested for attempting to smuggling heroin into Australia.
Defence Minister Marise Payne said investigations were ongoing.
"My understanding is it's a police operation with ADF support and as they are operational matters I won't expand on that," she said.
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