EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN - USS Gary (FFG 51), with its embarked helicopter squadron and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), seized more than 590 kilos of cocaine after intercepting a "Go Fast" vessel in international waters off the coast of Central America, Nov. 9.
The operation was conducted in support of Operation Martillo.
A U.S. Navy maritime patrol aircraft observed a "Go Fast" vessel underway at sunset and informed Gary of the position. Gary launched one of its SH-60B helicopters from embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 (HSL-49), Detachment 4 and maneuvered to intercept the vessel.
The 11th Coast Guard District directed Gary to deploy its joint Coast Guard LEDET and Navy visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) boat crew to intercept the vessel. Upon boarding, a search of the vessel yielded several bales of contraband.
This marks Gary's third successful interception in recent months, disrupting an approximated total of 1,900 kilograms of cocaine shipments off the coast of Central America.
"Conducting counter-narcotics operations requires a coordinated team effort to be successful," stated Cmdr. Steven McDowell, Gary's commanding officer. "I could not be more proud of the crew."
Gary, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate, is currently deployed to the 4th Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Martillo.
Operation Martillo, a joint, international law enforcement and military operation involving the U.S., European and Western Hemisphere partner nations, targets illicit trafficking routes in the waters off Central America. U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) leads the U.S. military involvement in the Joint Operation Task Force.
Overall coordination of counter-drug patrols and surveillance in the Eastern Pacific is done by a joint agency task force headquartered in Key West, Florida. U.S. maritime law enforcement and the interdiction phase of operations in the region occur under the tactical control of the 11th Coast Guard District headquartered in Alameda, California.
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet support USSOUTHCOM's joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 01.05.2015 14:18 |
| Story ID: | 151368 |
| Location: | USS GARY, USSOUTHCOM, AT SEA |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, USS Gary-Coast Guard team intercepts illicit drug traffickers, by ENS Michael Singer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
