OTTAWA -

Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Whitehorse, in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, assisted with the interception of more than 5200 kg of cocaine in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Costa Rica as part of Operation CARIBBE in early March.

Quick Facts

• The crew of a coastal freighter began throwing bales of contraband overboard when the USS Gary, patrolling the area with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) aboard, approached the vessel. 
• HMCS Whitehorse and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell were called in to join the operation.  
• A boarding and search of the suspect vessel by the USCG Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) embarked with HMCS Whitehorse and USS Gary did not reveal any additional drugs, but the cocaine retrieved from the sea by the ships’ crews totalled approximately 5284 kg.
• The entire operation lasted more than three days. The seizure could not be divulged until now to avoid jeopardizing the investigation into the matter.
• This is the largest of three narcotics interceptions in 2015 for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) assets deployed on Operation CARIBBE, and the second largest recorded in our history of the operation, surpassed only by HMCS St. John’s which, in 2011, assisted the USCG in seizing 6750 kg of cocaine.
• Operation CARIBBE is Canada’s contribution to Operation MARTILLO – a multinational, joint, combined, and interagency effort by the nations of the Western Hemisphere and Europe to prevent illicit trafficking in the Caribbean basin, the eastern Pacific Ocean and the littoral waters of Central America.
• Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) assets deployed on Operation CARIBBE act in a support role. While operating in international waters, their tasks are to locate, track, and approach suspect vessels. USCG LEDET personnel embarked on Royal Canadian Navy ships may further proceed to board and conduct law enforcement operations.

Quotes

“I commend the crew of HMCS Whitehorse for their work in stopping this massive shipment of illegal drugs from entering our communities. Our Canadian Armed Forces members continue to make Canadians proud with their exceptional work in defending North America.”

The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence

“The involvement of HMCS Whitehorse in this significant seizure is indicative of our commitment to working with partners in deterring transnational criminal activity. We remain diligent in our preparations and steadfast in conducting operations.”

Lieutenant-General Jonathan Vance, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command