UK Warship Praised for Drug Operations

In just three weeks on counter-drugs operations in the Pacific HMS Argyll has helped her allies to seize more than six tonnes of contraband valued at $116 million US dollars.

The Royal Navy warship worked alongside her US, Canadian and Colombian allies to help deter potential drug traffickers from using the sea to transport their goods.

She had to use her full range of capabilities during the operations including stopping and searching suspect craft, looking for suspect vessels using her powerful radar and launching her helicopter to stop them.

During a four-day visit to the regional counter-narcotics headquarters in Key West, Florida, the Director of Joint Inter Agency Task Force (South) (JIATF(S)), Rear Admiral Steve Mehling US Coast Guard, said that the three-week mission was a huge success.

During a lunch on board the Type-23 frigate he presented the Commanding Officer Commander Tim Neild with a ‘Snowflake’ Burgee, a flag presented to those ships that have successfully countered traffickers of narcotics.

Cdr Neild, spoke to the assembled guests at a reception and capability demonstration held afterwards. He said:

“The US is the UK’s most trusted and important ally and our relationship is essential for our security and prosperity.”

“Argyll has shown the great flexibility and value-for-money that a UK warship can deliver on operations throughout her deployment. Stopping the flow of counter-narcotics as part of Operation Martillo is one vital part of that work.”

Operation Martillo is a 15-nation collaborative effort to deny trans-national criminal organisations air and maritime access to the littoral regions of Central America, and focus on putting a stop to the illegal movement of drugs from South America to the West.

US Coast Guard Vice Admiral Manson Brown and the director of JIATF(S) both also attended a relationship building event on board the ship alongside other senior members of the US Coast Guard and the UK Consul General Miami, Kevin McGurgan.

The visit comes near the end of an epic and varied deployment for Argyll that has seen her conduct a range of operations in the seas around Africa, the Falklands and the Eastern Pacific prior to entering the Caribbean.

Argyll will now take part in important regional engagement visits before returning to her Devonport home in September 2013.

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Press Release, September 03, 2013; Image: Royal Navy