U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Counter-Narcotic Efforts Recognized
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS061027-12
Release Date: 10/27/2006 3:22:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Holly Boynton, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs
MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy presented U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) the Director’s Award for Distinguished Service during a ceremony at NAVSO headquarters Oct. 27 in recognition of their counter-narcotics efforts in its area of responsibility (AOR).
John P. Walters presented the award to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr., in recognition of the joint effort to stem the flow of illegal narcotics from South America.
“The brave men and women who are working to stem the flow of drugs to the United States deserve our thanks and gratitude,” said Walters. “Their work is making American communities safer and protecting our citizens from the misery of drug crime, violence and addiction. They are proving every day that when we push back against the international drug problem, it gets smaller.”
Accepting the award for NAVSO, Stevenson said it was a combined effort to accomplish the mission.
“We are honored to receive this award on behalf of all the men and women who have participated in our ongoing counter-narcotics operations. It is truly a team effort with ships at sea, deployed air detachments, the U.S. Coast Guard, a variety of other forces and agencies, as well as with our partner nations in Latin America.”
In 2005, the units supporting NAVSO in the counter-drug effort disrupted more than 99 metric tons of cocaine, and through October 2006 an additional 106 metric tons. U.S. Navy aircraft flew 2,250 hours in support of the counter-narcotics mission through the end of September 2006.
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