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Samuel B. Roberts Claims Another Victory in the War Against Drugs

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS031112-11

Release Date: 11/12/2003 9:14:00 PM

By USS Samuel B. Roberts Public Affairs

ABOARD USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, At Sea (NNS) -- The guided-missile frigate USS Samuel B Roberts (FFG 58), commanded by Cmdr. Michael A Hall, recently got her second drug bust in as many weeks, seizing nearly 2 metric tons of cocaine while patrolling in the Eastern Pacific.

Roberts, working with Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South), the agency responsible for counter-drug operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, was conducting routine patrols when it detected the small fishing boat by radar. Making way through the water on an extremely dark night with no navigation lights, the 50 ft. Colombian fishing vessel was deemed to be behaving suspiciously, and Roberts requested permission from Coast Guard District 11 to investigate.

Upon receiving permission, the U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 401, embarked on Roberts, sent a boarding team to the suspected vessel. While searching, the team noticed several indications that the vessel had recently been altered, possibly to create a hidden compartment. Space accountability investigations yielded similar results. The trained eyes of the boarding team members found many clues that led the team to believe that illicit drugs may be hidden aboard.

After nearly 12 hours, the exhausted Coast Guard team located the contraband in a false fuel tank. A formidable task, the crew worked tirelessly through the night to extract the cocaine. The illegal cargo was seized, and the eight Colombian men aboard were detained.

Assisting the LEDET team throughout the evolution were members of Robert's Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team. Among the team, Gas Turbine Technician 1st Class Michael Vickers used his in-rate training as an engineer to transfer 5,600 gallons fuel from the suspect vessel so its tanks could be searched, while the rest of the team assisted with security.

"The underway training provided by LEDET 401 was invaluable to junior team members," said Vickers. The lessons, which center on tactics in extreme situations, build confidence in those who haven't done a boarding yet."

A Commander, Naval Surface Group 2 ship, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 14, Roberts recently seized more than 3 metric tons of cocaine after beginning her counter drug operations deployment Sept. 25. Aboard and providing necessary support to Roberts throughout both seizures are LEDET 401 and Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 44.

Off to a promising start, Roberts' officers and crew are enthusiastic about maintaining this pace throughout the deployment. "At this rate, we're on track to having the most successful counter-drug ops deployment yet," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Hurni, the ship's executive officer.