Canadian Ships End Participation in Operation Caribbe

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMC Ships) Brandon and Yellowknife ended their participation in Operation Caribbe 2014 on Thursday, December 4, concluding Canada’s annual contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have conducted Operation Caribbe since November 2006 and remain committed to working with Western Hemisphere and European partners to address security challenges in the region and successfully disrupt illicit trafficking operations.

While supporting United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachments, the efforts of CAF personnel on Operation Caribbe 2014 directly contributed to the seizure of more than four metric tons of cocaine and more than 500 kilograms of marijuana.

As part of Operation Caribbe 2014, the CAF contributed four CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft, seven maritime coastal defence vessels (HMC Ships Nanaimo, Whitehorse, Kingston, Glace Bay, Summerside, Brandon and Yellowknife), one Halifax-class frigate (HMCS Calgary), and one Iroquois-class destroyer (HMCS Athabaskan) with two embarked CH-124 Sea King helicopters.

HMC Ships sailed 281 days, CP-140 Auroras flew 310 hours, and CH-124 Sea Kings flew 185 hours, providing important surveillance, detection and disruption capabilities during Operation Caribbe 2014.

As well, HMC Ships Kingston, Glace Bay, Nanaimo and Whitehorse, and one CP-140 Aurora deployed concurrently, marking the largest simultaneous deployment to the CAF contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking.

[mappress mapid=”14653″]

Press release, Image: Canadian Navy