USS Zephyr Conducts Counternarcotics Operations

CARIBBEAN SEA

10.29.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Hendricks 

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

Zephyr and an embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) were conducting routine counter-illicit trafficking operations when a “go-fast” boat was identified as a possible drug smuggler.
Zephyr approached the vessel, allowing the LEDET‘s Over-the-Horizon (OTH) Rigid-hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) to quickly board and gain control of the vessel. A search of the vessel revealed 17 bales, which all tested positive for cocaine. 18 additional bales that were spotted by Zephyr sailors were retrieved from the water near where the go-fast vessel was stopped.
This seizure represents approximately $17-26 million worth of cocaine.
Three males aboard the go-fast were taken into custody and are awaiting transfer to the USCG.
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.
For more information, visit www.public.navy.mil/comusnavso-c4f, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4thflt, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/navsous4thflt.

• Date Taken: 10.29.2017
• Date Posted: 11.08.2017 10:40
• Story ID: 254596
• Location: CARIBBEAN SEA