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USS Stephen W. Groves Scores Interdicts 8.1 Metric Tons of Cocaine
Navy Newsstand ^ | 9/15/2006 12:05:00 PM | USS Stephen W. Groves Public Affairs

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/.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: warondrugs; wod; wodlist
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To: Moonman62

If you're collecting money for his plane ticket, I'll help out. Good response.


81 posted on 09/15/2006 6:44:20 PM PDT by ryan71
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To: ryan71
TO CLEAR UP A MISCONCEPTION

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.

82 posted on 09/15/2006 6:58:34 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: sticker
Sorry for your loss.

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

83 posted on 09/15/2006 7:47:26 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass
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To: CWOJackson

"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.


84 posted on 09/16/2006 4:18:41 AM PDT by ryan71
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To: Moonman62
Possession was legal.

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?

85 posted on 09/16/2006 2:29:50 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Moonman62; ryan71
evidence in countries that have legalized drugs show no increase in addicts.

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).

86 posted on 09/16/2006 2:31:45 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Moonman62
Success is failure

An expensive drop in the bucket is failure in my book.

87 posted on 09/16/2006 2:32:48 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Tenacious 1
As for the "War on Drugs?" To be effective, we would have to raid several countries if we wanted to curb the drug problem in the US. [...] Since Drugs are about supply and demand and personal choice, we can hardly justify our invading south America to kill and destroy drug cartels. [...] I don't believe the answer to curbing illicit use of narcotics is to give up and make it legal.

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)?

88 posted on 09/16/2006 2:37:15 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: sticker
The only thing in the blood system of the driver was THC

Drunk drivers kill people ... should we ban alcohol (again)?

89 posted on 09/16/2006 2:38:41 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: EricT.
I see it more as fighting a form of chemical warfare by a foreign power.

They're stuffing drugs into unwilling American orifices?

90 posted on 09/16/2006 2:40:32 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Tenacious 1
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.

And since marijuana is less addictive than alcohol, its legality then wouldn't have made you a pothead today either.

91 posted on 09/16/2006 2:43:05 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Know your rights; MAD-AS-HELL
Please move to a tough-on-drugs country like China or Iran (whihc still have significant addiction problems).

MAD-AS-HELL disagrees with you.

92 posted on 09/16/2006 3:12:44 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: Moonman62; MAD-AS-HELL
About what? Where's your evidence that he does? And where's his evidence that I'm wrong?
93 posted on 09/16/2006 3:14:02 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Know your rights
Manufacture, sale, and transportation were illegal ... that's plenty of prohibition.

No it's not, which is why the Libertarians and pot addicts want the same loopholes in order to break the prohibition on pot.

94 posted on 09/16/2006 3:15:12 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: Know your rights

Stop playing an idiot. You're too convincing. Go back to post #21. You drug advocates can't have it both ways.


95 posted on 09/16/2006 3:17:21 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: Moonman62
Manufacture, sale, and transportation were illegal ... that's plenty of prohibition.

No it's not

Your denial of the obvious is as laughable as your contempt for liberty is nauseating.

96 posted on 09/16/2006 3:17:54 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Moonman62
Go back to post #21.

Learn to read. That post has no bearing on my statement.

97 posted on 09/16/2006 3:19:17 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Owl_Eagle
Seems like more trouble than its worth, smuggling cocaine across the ocean

Not at the prices it will sell for while it is banned. I expect to see submarines soon if not already.

98 posted on 09/16/2006 3:23:41 PM PDT by The Red Zone
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To: All
My wife's nephew is 20 years old and totally messed up on coke,crack and heroin. He is currently in the hospital under suicide watch. This kid just sucks the life out of anyone he comes in contact with. The things he says to his mother is unbelievable. She is a wreck. Send all this cocaine crap to the bottom of the ocean along with the boats crew. This sh!t is EVIL!
99 posted on 09/16/2006 3:25:36 PM PDT by 4yearlurker (12th district Freeper.)
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To: Know your rights
Have you noticed that a lot of employers are requiring a hair sample for drug testing now?
Even though it is more expensive, the consensus is that a longer 'look' is needed at applicants.
It is the experience of employers that drug users have higher rates of Work Comp claims, absenteeism, property getting lost or stolen, and generally poor performance.
So folks who are in business and have to fight to stay in the game think the druggie crowd is not worth hiring.
As a free market is king amongst conservatives, does this give you a clue?
100 posted on 09/16/2006 3:27:52 PM PDT by investigateworld (Abortion stops a beating heart)
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