Coast Guard Nabs "Go Fast"

[Bobcat]

Coast Guard unloads 840 kilos of cocaine
CITIZEN STAFF
The crew of Her Majesty's Ship Argyll on Saturday unloaded 840 kilograms of cocaine, worth an estimated $27.9 million, at Coast Guard Sector Key West.

An additional 216 kilos of cocaine worth an estimated $7.1 million was off loaded Tuesday in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

While on a routine patrol, the crew of a Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South) patrol aircraft detected a go-fast vessel south of Haiti heading north at 15 knots with fuel barrels and possible contraband on board, reports state.

Watchstanders from the Coast Guard 7th District Command Center directed the Argyll to intercept and conduct a boarding of the vessel. The go-fast began to jettison objects and the Argyll launched both of their small boats. Shortly after, the go-fast vessel with four suspected smugglers aboard, became compliant and was boarded by a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement team.

The Argyll crew recovered 29 bales of contraband the suspects jettisoned into the water. All bales later tested positive for cocaine. The smuggling vessel was destroyed as a hazard to navigation.

In a separate case, the Coast Guard LEDET and crew of the Argyll teamed to seize 216 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $7.1 million after a Dutch maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspect go-fast and vectored the Argyll to the vessel's location on Nov. 23. The go-fast vessel was stopped and two suspects were taken into custody.

 

[Serious News]

HMS Argyll in high-speed night time chase for third cocaine bust in the Caribbean
Posted on November 24, 2014 by newsroom



The UK Warship, HMS Argyll, has seized over 850 Kg of cocaine with a wholesale value in the UK of £36 million. The Type 23 Frigate has been on a Counter Narcotics Operations in the Caribbean.

The bust is the third for the frigate since she sailed from Plymouth on her Atlantic Patrol Task [North] deployment in June this year.

The total volume of cocaine seized by HMS Argyll during her time in the Caribbean region is now 1,600 Kg – with a total value of over £68 million.

The ‘go-fast’ vessel was first detected by a US Coast Guard Maritime Patrol Aircraft, which then vectored in HMS Argyll to interdict.

After a 70 mile transit at maximum speed, HMS Argyll commenced a midnight search for the smugglers.

Using her advanced infra-red sensors, the most capable Type 23 Frigate, in constant communication with the assisting US Coast Guard aircraft, detected the suspect boat. The ship then launched her boats and commenced a high speed night time chase.

HMS Argyll closed undetected to 500 yards of the go-fast in what the Royal Navy describes as ‘a covert posture’, when the noise of the ship’s engines finally betrayed her position, causing the smugglers to try and evade at speed.

Realising they were about to be caught the crew of the go-fast then threw all of the drugs they were carrying overboard. From this point an hour long high speed chase between the warship, with her sea boats, and the go-fast vessel commenced.

Argyll then used high tech radar to guide her small patrol boats which surrounded the smugglers and forced them to surrender.

Secretary of state for Defence, Michael Fallon says: ‘HMS Argyll has had phenomenal success in disrupting the drugs trade which continues to blight the UK. Her crew are doing outstanding and demanding work, and the British people will rightly be proud of, and grateful for, their professionalism and commitment. Thanks to them, drugs destined for our streets never reach our shores.’

Lieutenant Matthew Turner, who was in charge of the Bridge at the time of the chase, says: ‘It was an intense couple of hours as we were trying to out-think and out-manoeuvre a small boat which can change direction in an instant. I think our training, during which we push the ship and ourselves to the limit, really helped us to make this operation such a success.’

HMS Argyll’s Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Hammond, says: ‘This night time drugs seizure had no helicopter support and was our most challenging, and satisfying yet.

‘The Royal Navy has helped remove a large quantity of drugs from circulation, and that, along with our disaster relief and engagement work has helped demonstrate the value for money a modern day warship provides.’

As part of her counter narcotics operations and reflecting the commitment of the UK to work with partner nations, HMS Argyll carries a US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment [LEDET]. To conduct a board and search of a suspect vessel, members of the LEDET and the ship’s crew are launched together in the ship’s boats.

In recent weeks HMS Argyll has provided assistance to Bermuda in the wake of Hurricane Gonzalo, conducted two further counter-narcotics seizure and hosted His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in Colombia.

This counter narcotics work carried out by HMS Argyll is part of Operation Martillo, a 15-nation collaborative effort to deny trans-national criminal organisations air and maritime access to regions of Central America, and focuses on putting a stop to the illegal movement of drugs from South America to the rest of the world.

http://forargyll.com/2014/11/hms-ar...hase-for-third-cocaine-bust-in-the-caribbean/

 

[Ryan Beckley]

This ship was in port in Key West when we were there for Thanksgiving. Tied up in the harbor at the outer mole.

 

[Ratickle]

At least they weren't chasing you down.



Were they????:sifone: