Her Majesty's Canadian Ships (HMC Ships) Brandon and Whitehorse recently concluded their participation in Operation CARIBBE 2015 with a substantial contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Since leaving their home port of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on October 23, the Royal Canadian Navy ships assisted the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in the seizure and disruption of approximately 9,800 kg of cocaine in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Central and South America.  Cases involved intercepting suspected smuggling vessels and locating floating bales of contraband at sea.

“The collaborative effort between both ships and the United States Coast Guard ensures the continued success of these types of operations in the region," said Lieutenant-Commander Landon Creasy, Commanding Officer, HMCS Brandon. "I could not be more proud of the professionalism, communication and skillset of all the members involved in these disruptions.”

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have conducted Operation CARIBBE since November 2006 and remain committed to working with Western Hemisphere and European partners to address security challenges in the region and successfully disrupt illicit trafficking operations.

Since deploying in late October, each ship, with 38 crew aboard, has patrolled waters in joint operations involving ships from the USCG and various maritime patrol aircraft. The crews accomplished a total of seven disruptions during the deployment, resulting in approximately 9,800 kg of cocaine being seized or disrupted.

HMC Ships Brandon and Whitehorse, each with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment aboard, worked jointly on four of the seven cases. HMCS Brandon is credited with two additional interdictions, and HMCS Whitehorse with one, during the deployment.

“I am tremendously proud of the dedication and hard work displayed by everyone involved in this operation," Lieutenant-Commander Shane Denneny, Commanding Officer, HMCS Whitehorse. "This demonstrates the strength in teamwork and working as a cohesive unit to suppress criminal activity in the region.”

Counter-smuggling operations involved coordinated patrols and interdictions involving U.S. military and law enforcement agencies as well as partner nations in the region. Additional details on individual interdictions are not available at this time due to ongoing investigations, law enforcement activity, or legal proceedings.