USS Decatur Captures Possible Al-Qaida Associated Drug-Smuggling dhow in Arabian Gulf

Central Command ^ | 19 December 2003 | Central_Floridian

[Central_Floridian]

December 19, 2003 Release Number: 03-12-50

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

USS Decatur Captures Possible Al-Qaida Associated Drug-Smuggling dhow in Arabian Gulf

Aboard USS Enterprise – A U.S. Navy boarding team operating from the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) discovered an estimated two tons of narcotics with a street value of around eight to ten million dollars aboard a 40-foot dhow intercepted in the Arabian Gulf on Dec. 15, at approximately 11:00 a.m. The dhow’s 12 crewmembers were taken into custody and transferred to USS Decatur, and Decatur sailors are in control of the dhow. The smuggling routes are known to be used by Al-Qaida and four of the 12 crew members are believed to have links to the organization.

[Tijeras_Slim]

As Homer Simpson would say, "DHOW!"

[Central_Floridian]

I was listening to NPR as I studied and heard about this. I didn't see it in the latest articles.

[Central_Floridian]

Crusade on the al-Quaida ping.

[tubebender]

I heard this on cBS radio at the top of the hour...

[TheCrusader]

Now we'll have to bring them to the U.S. and give them lawyers, a Koran, civil rights, and three hots & a cot. We'll bring the Red Cross in to visit them and provide them with Islamic chaplains. Wouldn't it have been better just to sink them after they "tried to ram the American ship"?

[princess leah]

Would have been better to simply blow the entire boat up - drugs, al-queda and everything!

[Calpernia]

Pro Military, Pro Coalition

Aboard USS Enterprise – A U.S. Navy boarding team operating from the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) discovered an estimated two tons of narcotics with a street value of around eight to ten million dollars aboard a 40-foot dhow intercepted in the Arabian Gulf on Dec. 15, at approximately 11:00 a.m. The dhow’s 12 crewmembers were taken into custody and transferred to USS Decatur, and Decatur sailors are in control of the dhow. The smuggling routes are known to be used by Al-Qaida and four of the 12 crew members are believed to have links to the organization.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[little jeremiah]

Is this one of the publications which must be excerpted? If it isn't, could you (pretty please) post the whole article? Those losers like myself with miserably slow dial up will be happy!

[blackie]

It's a good thing they didn't blow it up and sink it ~ look at all of the sea creatures saved from drug addiction. :)

[antiRepublicrat]

Would have been better to simply blow the entire boat up - drugs, al-queda and everything!

That doesn't help do anything but put a slight kink in their finances. Think interrogations and intelligence gathering.

[Grampa Dave]

Shades of Allah, their dwow is about to go down!

[Pro-Bush]

Crack Kills!

[Grampa Dave]

Good intel means more good intel which means more aQ's captured for more good intel.

They can call in an air strike at any time to down the dhow.

[Central_Floridian]

December 19, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-50


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


USS Decatur Captures Possible Al-Qaida Associated Drug-Smuggling dhow in Arabian Gulf


Aboard USS Enterprise – A U.S. Navy boarding team operating from the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) discovered an estimated two tons of narcotics with a street value of around eight to ten million dollars aboard a 40-foot dhow intercepted in the Arabian Gulf on Dec. 15, at approximately 11:00 a.m. The dhow’s 12 crewmembers were taken into custody and transferred to USS Decatur, and Decatur sailors are in control of the dhow. The smuggling routes are known to be used by Al-Qaida and three(*) of the 12 crew members are believed to have links to the organization.

Decatur was operating near the Strait of Hormuz, conducting Expanded Maritime Interception Operations designed to deny use of the seas by terrorists and smugglers.

Once aboard the dhow, Decatur’s boarding team determined that the dhow’s crew lacked proper documentation of its nationality or cargo. Decatur’s team then discovered 54 70-pound bags of hashish. An initial investigation uncovered clear ties between the smuggling operation and al-Qaida.

“This capture is indicative of the need for continuing maritime patrol of the Gulf in order to stop the movement of terrorists, drugs and weapons,” said Rear Adm. Jim Stavridis, Commander, Enterprise Aircraft Carrier Strike Group. “This is a vital part of winning the global war on terror.”

Future disposition of the dhow and its crew will be determined following coordination with investigation by legal authorities. The boarding was coordinated by Commander, Destroyer Squadron 18, embarked in the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, operating in the Arabian Gulf. USS Decatur, a part of Expeditionary Strike Group One, is home ported in San Diego.

[Central_Floridian]

Post 16.

[antiRepublicrat]

I though the dhow was about 10,000 and rising.

[little jeremiah]

Thank you kindly, sir or ma'am.

On good days it is 36k. Bad days it's 28k. Right now it's 34600k. So I like to stay on FR and no go hither and thither, unless necessary!

[Mr. Silverback]

Stephen Decatur is whomping the jihadi pirates again! From the USS Decatur website:

In 1815, Decatur commanded a nine-ship squadron headed for Algiers to settle conflicts which had persisted since 1812. Decatur's abilities as a negotiator were recognized after he secured a treaty with the Algerians and extracted compensation from the Tripolitans. During celebration of the truce with the North African States, Decatur declared his famous line: "Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country right or wrong."

She's an Arleigh Burke class destroyer launched by Bath Iron Works (Woohoo!) in Maine in 1996. Here's the main page of the ship's website.