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/.
If you're collecting money for his plane ticket, I'll help out. Good response.
For those who are outraged at the Navy for this action you can rest easy...the Navy didn't make the bust. In fact, it would have been illegal for the U.S. Navy to make the bust.
Once the suspect vessel was detected, operational control of the ship was turned over to the senior member of the Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment; in this case LTJG McCann. At that point the ship was operating under the control and jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard. Once the bust was completed operational control of the ship was returned to the U.S. Navy.
I always loved LEDET cruises and the Navy crews enjoy them as well...a great use of available resources. The only folks I ever met who didn't much like the arrangement were the dopers.
I saw, with my own eyes, dozens of people use drugs of various kinds recreationally on a pretty regular basis for a number of years while in college. None ended up in rehab or dead, all seemed to realize that eventually the fun would end and real life would take precedence. Of course, these were mostly good students, with plans for the future.
I would never say that drugs are harmless, and that no one messes up their life with drugs being the primary instrument. But it seems to me that people drive off the road and ruin their careers/family life with a variety of tools. From my experience, it's the judgment, maturity and character of the individual in question that determines the outcome.
And while I believe, philosophically, that drugs should be legalized, I'm not exactly losing any sleep because they aren't
"I always loved LEDET cruises and the Navy crews enjoy them as well"
Yep. Great liberty ports in the Caribbean. Then Fort Lauderdale on the way back North.
Manufacture, sale, and transportation were illegal ... that's plenty of prohibition.
Doctors could prescribe whiskey as "medicine."
Doctors can prescribe cocaine and opiates. Does that prove there's no real War on Drugs?
Low alcohol beer was legal. Law enforcement officers couldn't enter establishments that were serving it.
Not even with probable cause? Have any evidence for that claim?
Please move to one of those countries where you'll be happy.
Please move to a tough-on-drugs country like China or Iran (whihc still have significant addiction problems).
An expensive drop in the bucket is failure in my book.
Since you (rightly) rule out what you say is the only effective course, what is the alternative to continuing to futilely spend tens of billions of taxpayer dollars every year (and directing inflated profits into criminal and terrorist hands)?
Drunk drivers kill people ... should we ban alcohol (again)?
They're stuffing drugs into unwilling American orifices?
And since marijuana is less addictive than alcohol, its legality then wouldn't have made you a pothead today either.
MAD-AS-HELL disagrees with you.
No it's not, which is why the Libertarians and pot addicts want the same loopholes in order to break the prohibition on pot.
Stop playing an idiot. You're too convincing. Go back to post #21. You drug advocates can't have it both ways.
No it's not
Your denial of the obvious is as laughable as your contempt for liberty is nauseating.
Learn to read. That post has no bearing on my statement.
Not at the prices it will sell for while it is banned. I expect to see submarines soon if not already.
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