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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20050536.txt
NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
May 27, 2005
Release Number: 05-05-36
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION WARSHIPS INTERCEPT DRUG SMUGGLERS
NORTH ARABIAN SEA –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.
Guided missile frigate 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.
Kauffman is deployed in the region to conduct maritime security operations (MSO). MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
MSO pressurize 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 the actionable intelligence and began tracking the 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 the Kauffman. Coalition forces will transfer Al Naveed for follow-on disposition by the appropriate legal authorities. An agent from 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. 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 from where I stand,” said Krogman.
The naval task force has operated here for roughly four years and is well familiar with its 2.5 million square miles of water.
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.
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 with a total weight of more than 4,200 pounds.
“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. 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 to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command area of responsibility.
For further questions, please contact Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs Office at 011-973-1785-4027 or pao@cusnc.navy.mil.
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Note: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20050537.txt
NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
May 27, 2005
Release Number: 05-05-37
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOLDIERS DETAIN MAN TRYING TO DETONATE AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment, 155th Brigade Combat Team, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), captured a man who was waiting to detonate an improvised explosive device near the Al-Shahaba Mosque in Jarf As Sakhr, Iraq.
An informant notified U.S. Soldiers of a man acting in a suspicious manner. When the Soldiers arrived on scene, they observed him squatting on the side of the road. He fled on foot and was wounded when Soldiers fired at him.
The man was treated for his wounds and is in stable condition with Coalition Forces.
The IED, a 105mm artillery round with wires extending from it, consisted of a white box with detonation cord, a circuit board, four double-A batteries, a washing machine timer, and blasting caps, and had been emplaced in the middle of a main street 500 meters from the mosque. The Soldiers also found a garage door opener in the vicinity of his initial position.
An Explosive Ordinance Disposal team from Forward Operating Base Iskandariyah conducted a deliberate explosion on some explosive material they saw protruding from a crater. The explosion revealed two additional 152mm artillery rounds buried in a pre-existing crater.
The individual in custody had been previously detained by Iraqi National Guard forces in February 2005 for emplacing IEDs in the Jurf As Sakhr area.
The 155th Brigade Combat Team is assigned to II MEF (Fwd) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
For more information, contact Sergeant 1st Class Kevin W. Reeves, 155th BCT public affairs, at kevin.w.reeves@us.army.mil.
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