Navy Global Involvement
Preventing Drug Trafficking
The War on Drugs continues on land and at sea
Although the Navy responds and actively works to improve disaster–laden areas, it also concentrates on protecting its ports and seaways. Part of that job includes patrolling and investigating any and all suspicious–looking vessels.
Patrol Squadron 16 (VP 16) “War Eagles” from Jacksonville, Florida, made a dramatic impact in the War on Drugs by recovering more than 41 tons of cocaine.
The crew of USS Crommelin, working in conjunction with USS Ticonderoga (CG 47), made their first recovery of illegal narcotics since they began patrolling the waters of the Eastern Pacific.
With USS Crommelin acting as a blocker, USS Ticonderoga maneuvered ahead of a speedboat and ordered the drug runners to stop. USS Ticonderoga performed all the necessary steps to persuade the speedboat to halt. Using a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera, crewmembers visually documented the speedboat’s crew throwing their illegal cargo overboard. USS Ticonderoga then broke from the chase to recover the contraband while USS Crommelin continued pursuit.
Did you know?
In just over a month, VP–16’s drug busts equated to a record–setting street value of more than $2 billion!
USS Crommelin had recovered a total of 72 cocaine bales weighing more than 50 pounds each and worth a total estimated street value of $36 million. The smugglers were captured and turned over to the appropriate authorities.
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