USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Det., (LEDET), recovered approximately 1,700 pounds of cocaine found adrift in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Central America, Dec. 2.
Vandegrift found the drugs while on patrol in support of Operation Martillo.
One of Vandegrift’s SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopters, from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49, located the bales floating in a known drug-trafficking area.
The 11th Coast Guard District directed the Vandegrift to deploy its Coast Guard LEDET boat crew to further identify and search the area. Upon arriving, the LEDET discovered approximately 30 large bales in the water.
This marked Vandegrift’s 10th successful smuggling interdiction in recent months, disrupting the distribution of approximately 20,000 pounds of illicit drugs off the coast of Central America.
Vandegrift an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate just completed its deployment to the 4th Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Martillo, which began in January 2012.
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Press release, Image: US Navy