Naval Reserve Squadron and Coast Guard Score Major Drug Bust
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS030527-09
Release Date: 5/27/2003 4:40:00 PM
From Patrol Squadron 69 Public Affairs
OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- A Naval Air Reserve P-3C Orion crew and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter recently teamed up to bring about a major drug bust in the Eastern Pacific.
Patrol Squadron (VP) 69's Combat Aircrew 2 detected and monitored a small "Go Fast" drug smuggling vessel during a routine counter-narcotics surveillance flight. The initial detection of the speedboat showcased the talents of a junior radar operator and the capabilities of the P-3C's Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar. The system was able to detect the craft, despite the vessel's small size and low profile, which makes detection extremely difficult.
The crew maintained contact with the cleverly camouflaged, 40-foot long, hi-performance speedboat for more than eight hours, despite the smugglers persistent efforts to evade surveillance. The P-3's tactical coordinator then coordinated the intercept of the drug runner with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WHEC 724), which was initially positioned more than 300 miles from the smugglers. The P-3 crew extended their on-station time by meticulously managing fuel consumption in order to provide constant updates to Munro. The joint effort enabled Munro's helicopter and crew to arrest five Colombian nationals and seize more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine.
Based upon the bales of cocaine they passed before subduing the smugglers, Munro officers estimate the drug smugglers had dumped an additional 4,000 pounds of cocaine overboard prior to their arrest. The total street value of this interdiction is estimated to be $175 million.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
