• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Coalition Warships Intercept Drug Smugglers

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050527-11
Release Date: 5/27/2005 10:06:00 AM

From USS Kearsarge Strike Group Public Affairs

NORTH ARABIAN SEA (NNS) -- A coalition effort involving ships from Commander, Task Force (CTF) 150, under the Coalition Forces Maritime Component Command, led to the seizure of more than 4,200 pounds of hashish here in international waters May 20.

USS Kauffman (FFG 59) had been tracking the motor vessel Al Naveed before boarding the vessel. The boarding team discovered the drugs hidden behind a false bulkhead.

Once the boarding team spotted what appeared to be a false bulkhead with hidden cargo behind it, they investigated further. The crew gained access to the hidden cargo and discovered 96 large bags of hashish.

Kauffman is deployed in the region to conduct maritime security operations (MSO). MSO sets the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO denies international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. MSO pressurizes the maritime environment by using coalition ships to detect, deter and deny illegal use of the high seas.

Kauffman is stationed in the Arabian Sea as a part of this coalition effort. Because the ship was in the area, Kauffman was able to rapidly respond to intelligence and began tracking Al Naveed in conjunction with the German frigate FGS Karlsruhe.

“This is a mission our Sailors have prepared for extensively throughout the pre-deployment work-up cycle, said Cmdr. Kenneth Krogman, Kauffman’s commanding officer. “The entire ship’s team, especially the boarding team, performed professionally and executed this mission in textbook fashion. It’s a great feeling to have prevented these drugs from reaching their destination.”

The drugs were confiscated and transferred to Kauffman. Coalition forces will transfer Al Naveed for follow-on disposition by the appropriate legal authorities.

An agent from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service provided investigative assistance. All evidence, including the drugs, will be handed over to the appropriate authorities to assist their prosecution of this case.

“It’s an honor to be part of the international coalition that performs this important mission," said Krogman. "A German frigate (FGS Karlsruhe) and her helicopter assisted in tracking the vessel prior to the boarding. We couldn’t have remained on station without the services of a British oiler to refuel us. [This] is truly an international effort."

The naval task force has operated here for roughly four years and is very familiar with the 2.5 million square miles of water in its area of operations.

Kauffman has conducted numerous queries and boardings since arriving on station in the region to conduct MSO. This was by far its most rewarding boarding to date.

“The success of this boarding is due to a combination of effective training, intel support and the skills of my 14 highly motivated boarding team members,” said Lt. j.g. John J. Sheridan, the initial boarding officer on the scene.

“Denying drug runners, those engaged in human smuggling, pirates, and terrorists the ability to use the high seas is the reason we are here,” said Krogman. “We executed that mission safely and efficiently with great results. It is something that every ship in this coalition force is prepared to do.

“The discovery of such a great quantity of drugs and knowing that their sale has been prevented really puts a bounce in the step of my entire crew," he added. "It is a great way to recharge everyone’s batteries in the middle of a deployment and maintain focus on this very important mission. I couldn’t be more proud of our Sailors right now. They performed superbly.”

Kauffman deployed from Norfolk, Va., March 25, as part of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group, with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and has been assigned to CTF 150 since arriving in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command area of responsibility.