Posted on 09/15/2006 11:13:07 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) recently scored her third successful take down of narcotics trafficking vessels in less than two weeks, and assisted in the take down of a fourth, interdicting an estimated 8.1 metric tons of cocaine during a counter-narco terrorism operations (CNT OPS) deployment for U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.
While on patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in early August, Stephen W. Groves took down a “go fast” loaded with an estimated 2.6 metric tons of cocaine and interdicted another “go fast” that was preparing to onload narcotics. “Go fast” vessels are small, multi-engined speedboats commonly used to transport illicit narcotics.
Less than two weeks later, the ship’s crew, along with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (46), Det. 8, and embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 105 interdicted a third “go fast” vessel. Stephen W. Groves was able to close to within a few miles of the “go fast” before being detected and having to give chase. Stephen W. Groves pursued the “go fast” at high speed for the next hour and a half before catching her and detaining her four crew members.
“It is really rare to capture a fully-fuelled 'go-fast' in a flat-out chase,” said Lt. j.g. Scott McCann, LEDET 105 officer in charge. "It is estimated this bust prevented 3 metric tons of cocaine from making it to the United States."
A 26-hour, 750-mile pursuit a few days later resulted in the interdiction of an additional 2.5 metric tons of cocaine and the detention of 10 suspects.
“Only with the precise coordination of everyone involved was the capture of these go-fasts possible,” added Stephen W. Groves’ Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Jon Kreitz. “We could not have had these successes without the terrific support of several maritime patrol aircraft and personnel ashore. We’ve had a terrific couple of weeks interdicting over eight tons of cocaine.”
Stephen W. Groves began her six-month counter-drug operations deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command area of responsibility in early April. While deployed, Stephen W. Groves’ crew works with other assets from Joint Interagency Task Force South, the agency responsible for counter-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
Homeported in Mayport, Fla., Stephen W. Groves is a Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14 ship. During the ship’s deployment, the crew will be patrolling nearly 4 million square nautical miles of water in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
"This is what I joined the Navy for, for a chance to get out and do what we train for, and for a chance to really make a difference," Quartermaster 2nd Class (SW) Zachary Bullock said. "I know that’s what we’re doing."
For more information on Stephen W. Groves, go to www.groves.navy.mil.
For more information on U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, go to www.cusns.navy.mil.
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusns/.
do they make mules that big that can carry 8 tons??? the mules around here can only carry about 200#
How do you know what the demand is? Would you use any type of drug because it became legal? I know i wouldn't because I have/had no desire to use it. Again, it's a baseless argument to say more people would try it. Why do you ignore the other countries where it's been legalized where they aren't having a problem with increased addiction?
Love your screen name!
Actually, the Netherlands is bailing on its across-the-board legalization program because it resulted in much heavier use. We live in a world where people think legal=good, so it's reasonable to expect drug use to go up where it's legalized.
That said, if we have already have problems with alcohol, which is legal and has a cultural tradition, I don't see that we'd help it by legalizing another destructive drug that has no cultural tradition, nothing but organized crime connections, and no positive aspects that anybody has been able to discern so far. Unless you're concerned that Uncle Sam isn't making his cut off it, but I doubt that's your concern.
[Do you believe that legalization would lead to a large surge in addictions? Curious. Do you think there are more alcoholics than there were under/because of prohibition?]
It is at best my logical assumption. I do not purport to know or have researched it. Maybe I am wrong. I have no idea about whether or not there were more or less alcoholics before or after prohibition. I do know that 70 years ago, there was personal accountability and honor in a larger percentage of American citizens. I do believe that two generations ago were more responsible and accountable. Today, drugs are the crutch and the reason someone's life is ruined, it never has anything to do with bad choices. I don't think our "more socialist" society is responsible enough to NOT use a "legal" dangerous and destructive narcotic. Therefore, I believe MORE people would want to "try" it, many would like it and "try" it several times and that is about all it takes to "need" it.
This is just my opnion based on experience. I have know a couple of great people with high ideals, enthusiastic passion for life and hardworking that ended up dead, in jail, and unknown of respectively. I cannot explain what led them to their eventual demise other than my first hand knowledge of them just "trying" those drugs. In all three cases, they just tried cocaine and graduated to other stuff. Two of the three, to my knowledge, weren't even pot users before they "tried" cocaine.
If three good decision makers made bad decisions and ruined their lives, I shudder to think of how many feable minded Americans would run out to try the new legal pleasure and like it.
LoL, a Frigate is not a battle fleet. It is one of the smallest vessels to be considered a 'ship' in the US Navy. Narco-terrorist interdiction provides valuable operational training for the crew. It also provides the imminently valuable reason for being that keeps the crew's mission focus and morale very high.
Obviously DISPROPORTIONATE use of force!!!!! /sarc
Fool.
If they were illegal, they would sell for $3 each. Not each pack. Each cigarette.
See post #49.
I would not use any drug because it became legal. I believe however, that posters and readers of this site are not a good sample of the US populace. I believe you and I and most that lurk here are more educated, more intelligent and wiser than the average American. I don't mean to be contentious on the matter or seem arrogant, but there are a lot of people in thes country that are currently not users that would run out and try this new legal feel good novelty just because they could and if they liked it, they would find themselves addicted in short order. I think alcohol in this country is a problem. It is entrenched in our culture and it can't be completely stopped. I enjoy it myself sometimes and in college I had my wild days. Had drugs been legal in college and I had consumed anywhere near the amount of alcohol I consumed, I would not be where I am today in life. Of that I am sure. But today I am not an alcoholic. In fact, I might drink once or twice a month for business or date night with my wife.
I see it more as fighting a form of chemical warfare by a foreign power. It's a threat to America, whether you like it's legal status or not.
Slick Willie's connection just dried up...
I don't believe you.
Pot heads do not run off the road. They drive 10 miles an hour in the right lane, IF they drive at all.
I know CEO's who do pot. I know cops who do pot, and lawyers, and doctors.
Pot is a lot safer than alcohol. Potheads do not start fights in a rage (like drunks). Potheads do not cause traffic accidents. Potheads do not beat their wives in a (drunken) rage.
They are guilty of massive cheato ingestion, though.
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