Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Whitehorse, in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, assisted with the interception of more than 5200 kg of cocaine in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Costa Rica as part of Operation CARIBBE in early March.
Interdictions of multi-ton loads of drugs in the maritime transit zone of the Eastern Pacific ocean typically occur several times each year. The bust is one of the largest in the region since 2009 when the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis (WHEC-725) intercepted a semi-submersible craft in the Eastern Pacific carrying approximately five tons of cocaine.
“The involvement of HMCS Whitehorse in this significant seizure is indicative of our commitment to working with partners in deterring transnational criminal activity. We remain diligent in our preparations and steadfast in conducting operations” , Lieutenant-General Jonathan Vance , Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command said.
Operation CARIBBE is Canada’s contribution to Operation MARTILLO – a multinational, joint, combined, and interagency effort by the nations of the Western Hemisphere and Europe to prevent illicit trafficking in the Caribbean basin, the eastern Pacific Ocean and the littoral waters of Central America.
Image: USCG