The Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt was busy Friday morning after Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Nanaimo (HMCS) returned from its deployment in support of Operation CARIBBE.
This campaign against drug trafficking focused on crime in the Caribbean basin and the eastern Pacific coast.
Canadian Forces collaborated with the US Coast Guard to halt the trafficking of several hundred million dollars worth of drugs over the course of the operation.
Welcome home to #HMCSNanaimo from a successful #OpCARIBBE. #RCNavy, keeping our seas safe and disrupting drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. #MARPAC We are your West Coast Navy pic.twitter.com/JjNEDkWHZ3
— MARPAC-JTFP / FMARP-FOIP (@MARPAC_FMARP) December 15, 2017
HMCS Nanaimo has specifically assisted in disrupting a cocaine shipment estimated at 750kg.
“I commend the recent efforts and success of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Moncton and Nanaimo to interrupt the flow of illicit drugs and support multinational efforts to deter criminal activity,” commented Lieutenant-General Steven Bowes.
The United States and Canada have been close collaborators in past efforts against drug trafficking. Since 2006, the Canadian Armed Forces have helped seize nearly 70 tons of cocaine.
