Operation Caribbe

Operation Caribbe is the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the elimination of illegal trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean by organized crime. The operation began in 2006 and its mandate has been altered twice since then.

Operation Caribbe
Part of the War on Drugs
DateNovember 2006 - present
Location
Caribbean Sea
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Canada Illicit trafficking operators
Commanders and leaders
Stuart Beare[1] Unknown commander
Strength
seven ships, four CP-140 Aurora aircraft, and a submarine Unknown

History

In 2005, Canada agreed to send CP-140 Aurora aircraft for maritime detection purposes in the Caribbean Sea.[2] Operation Caribbe began in November 2006. In October 2010 the mission was expanded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Canada and the United States that allowed law enforcement detachments from the United States Coast Guard to operate from Canadian warships deployed on Operation Caribbe.[3]

In January 2012, Operation Caribbe was folded into the umbrella operation, Operation Martillo, which is a joint multinational effort led by the United States to eliminate illicit trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, the eastern Pacific Ocean and the coastal areas of the Central American nations.[3]

Command structure

Subject to the operational command of Operation Martillo, any forces assigned to Operation Caribbe are under the operational direction of the United States Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. For the Canadian Armed Forces, nation command is maintained by the Canadian Joint Operations Command. The Canadian forces deployed to Operation Caribbe thus far have been warships from the Royal Canadian Navy and CP-140 Auroras and crew from the Royal Canadian Air Force.[3]

Mission

Canadian warships deployed on Operation Caribbe work in a support role, locating and tracking any vessels or targets of interest. Unless provided with law enforcement officers from the United States Coast Guard, the Canadian warships do not participate in the interdiction of those targets. The CP-140 Aurora aircraft and their crews patrol in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Pacific Ocean to track targets of interest. They do not participate in the interdiction of suspicious targets.[3]

Results

In 2009, Calgary and Toronto were deployed to the Caribbean Sea.[2]

In 2010, the Royal Canadian Navy vessels Algonquin, Vancouver, Toronto and Protecteur were deployed. The warships intercepted more than 29 metric tons of illegal drugs.[3]

In 2011, Algonquin, Athabaskan, Toronto, St. John's, Kingston, Goose Bay, Moncton, Summerside, Corner Brook and seven CP-140 Auroras were deployed. St. John's aided USCGC Cypress in recovering 6,750 kilograms (14,880 lb) of cocaine from a scuttled vessel. Toronto handed over a small boat to the Nicaraguan Navy which contained 68 bales of cocaine.[3]

In 2012, Iroquois, Ottawa, Goose Bay, Kingston, Preserver and CP-140 Aurora aircraft on five occasions were deployed. On 28 November 2012 Ottawa supported United States law enforcement personnel in boarding a suspicious fishing vessel. The boarding resulted in the seizure of 36 bales of cocaine weighing 1086 kilograms. Between 18 and 29 November, CP-140 Aurora crews assisted in the seizure, through surveillance and detection, of 144 bales of cocaine weighing 4,300 kilograms (9,500 lb).[3]

In 2013, Ottawa, Ville de Québec, Kingston, Summerside, Yellowknife, Edmonton, Victoria, Preserver and four CP-140 Aurora aircraft and crew were deployed.[4][5] Canadian participation resulted in the assistance of seizing 5,080 kilograms (11,200 lb) of illegal drugs during the year.[4]

In 2014, Kingston, Glace Bay, Nanaimo, Whitehorse and a CP-140 Aurora and crew have been deployed.[6] Kingston and Glace Bay completed their six-week deployments and returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia in April 2014. While returning from the operation, Kingston had a small fire aboard, which was dealt with and no casualties were incurred.[7] The operation resulted in the interception of 550 kilograms (1,210 lb) of cocaine.[8] Summerside joined Operation Caribbe in June.[9] Beginning in September, Athabaskan joined the operation. On 1 October, the destroyer participated in the seizure of 820 kg (1,810 lb) of cocaine valued at $24.5 million.[10]

In January 2015, Winnipeg deployed to the eastern Pacific Ocean as part of the operation.[11] As of 25 February, four Kingston-class vessels were deployed to the Caribbean; Whitehorse, Nanaimo, Goose Bay and Moncton.[12] In March 2015, as part of Operation Caribbe, Goose Bay and the US frigate USS Kauffman along with Shawinigan, intercepted a vessel in the Caribbean Sea carrying 1,017 kilograms (2,242 lb) of cocaine.[13][14] In early March 2015, Whitehorse, in conjunction with the US Navy and the US Coast Guard, intercepted a freighter in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean that led to the seizure of 5,200 kilograms (11,500 lb) of cocaine.[15][16] On 10 March, Nanaimo came across fifty 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) packets of cocaine floating in the ocean.[17] Athabaskan sailed for the Caribbean on 16 April to take part in Operation Caribbe.[18]

In October 2015, Brandon deployed with Whitehorse off the Pacific coast of North America as part of Operation Caribbe. During their deployment, Brandon performed two seizures of smuggling vessels and Whitehorse one. In total, seven seizures were performed interdicting a total of nearly 9,800 kilograms (21,600 lb) of cocaine. The two ships returned to Canada in December.[19]

In January 2016, Summerside and Moncton were ordered to the Caribbean as part of Operation Caribbe.[20] In February they were joined by Edmonton and Saskatoon.[21] On 25 March, in conjunction with the United States Navy destroyer Lassen, Edmonton intercepted drug smugglers in international waters off the coast of Central America. After being stopped the smuggling vessel attempted to dump its cargo overboard. Edmonton, working with a United States Coast Guard detachment, recovered 27 bales of cocaine equaling 650 kilograms (1,430 lb). Saskatoon moved to intercept a smuggling vessel the same day that had been reported by patrol aircraft. The boat was not found, however, Saskatoon recovered sixteen bales of cocaine totaling 640 kilograms (1,410 lb).[22]

Nanaimo departed Esquimalt on 28 September 2017 and sailed to San Diego, California to embark a United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) before beginning patrols associated with Operation Caribbe in the Eastern Pacific.[23] On 31 October, Nanaimo intercepted a suspect vessel and her LEDET unit boarded the boat, seizing 478 kg (1,054 lb) of cocaine. Nanaimo intercepted a further 750 kg (1,650 lb) of cocaine in the following weeks. In November, Moncton was in the Caribbean to take part in Operation Caribbe. On 11 November, Moncton intercepted a suspect vessel, and her embarked United States Coast Guard LEDET unit boarded the vessel, seizing 834 kg (1,839 lb) of illegal cocaine.[24]

In 2018, Edmonton and Whitehorse deployed south into the eastern Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Caribbe. The two ships participated in the intercept and seizure of 2,856 kg (6,296 lb) of illegal drugs. Edmonton and Whitehorse returned to Esquimalt on 3 May.[25] In mid-2018, it was reported that detainees taken aboard Canadian ships while under U.S. control were mistreated after being transferred aboard United States Coast Guard vessels before they arrived on shore.[26]

In 2019, Whitehorse and Yellowknife both deployed to the Pacific as part of Operation Caribbe.[27] The two ships returned to Esquimalt on 16 May, having participated in the interception of 2,657 kg (5,858 lb) of cocaine and 25 kg (55 lb) of illicit marijuana.[28]

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References
  1. "Op Caribbe 2013 Wraps Up – Her Majesty's Canadian Ships Edmonton and Yellowknife And HMC Submarine Victoria Complete Deployments In Eastern Pacific Ocean". Ottawa Citizen. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  2. Tracy, p. 285
  3. "Operation CARIBBE". National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  4. "News Release - Canadian Armed Forces Wrap-Up Operation CARIBBE 2013". National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  5. "Canadian Armed Forces' Operation CARIBBE 2014 in Full Swing". Government of Canada. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  6. "Her Majesty's Canadian Ships Kingston and Glace Bay Have Joined HMC Ships Nanaimo and Whitehorse On Op CARIBBE". Ottawa Citizen. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  7. "Canadian Naval Ships Complete Deployment on Operation CARIBBE". navaltoday.com. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  8. Petrescu, Sarah (7 April 2014). "Two ships return to Esquimalt from Caribbean mission". Times Colonist. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  9. "HMCS Summerside Joins Operation CARIBBE". navaltoday.com. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  10. Pugliese, David (9 October 2014). "HMCS Athabaskan involved in coke bust in Caribbean". Defence Watch. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  11. Pugliese, David (27 January 2015). "HMCS Winnipeg in Eastern Pacific as part of Operation CARIBBE 2015". Defence Watch. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  12. Pugliese, David (2 March 2015). "Four Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels on patrol on OP Caribbe". Defence Watch. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  13. "Canada, US navies seize 1,000 kg cocaine in Caribbean". Business Standard. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  14. Pugliese, David (9 March 2015). "HMCS Goose Bay and HMCS Shawinigan take part in drug bust in Caribbean Sea". Defence Watch. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  15. "HMCS Whitehorse helps intercept 5,200 kg of cocaine in international waters". CBC News. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  16. Pugliese, David (2 April 2015). "HMCS Whitehorse assists U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard in drug bust off coast of Costa Rica". Defence Watch. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  17. Petrescu, Sarah (16 April 2015). "Esquimalt-based ships return from busting drug smugglers". Times Colonist. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  18. Pugliese, David (16 April 2015). "HMCS Athabaskan to take part in Op Caribbe". Defence Watch. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  19. Dedyna, Katherine (9 December 2015). "Esquimalt ships heading home after anti-drugs mission". Times-Colonist. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  20. Brown, Rhonda (27 January 2016). "Halifax-based naval ships join fight against drug smugglers in Caribbean, Pacific Ocean". Global News. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  21. "Esquimalt-based naval vessels join Operation Caribbe". Times Colonist. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  22. Pugliese, David (8 April 2016). "More drug seizures for Her Majesty's Canadian Ships Saskatoon and Edmonton". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  23. "HMCS Nanaimo deploys for Operation Caribbe". Victoria Lookout. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  24. Quon, Alexander (21 November 2017). "Canadian Armed Forces vessels have helped seize 2,162 kg of cocaine since October". Global News. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  25. Pugliese, David (2 May 2018). "Royal Canadian Navy ships return after counter-drug mission". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  26. Wessler, Seth & Nelson, Kristin (6 June 2018). "U.S. Coast Guard detentions of drug smugglers 'violating international law,' and Canada may be complicit". CBC News. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  27. Coyne, Todd (15 March 2019). "Esquimalt warships depart to hunt down drug traffickers". CTV News. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  28. "Esquimalt ships return home after seizing more than 2.5 tonnes of cocaine". CTV News. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.

Sources
  • Tracy, Nicholas (2012). A Two-Edged Sword: The Navy as an Instrument of Canadian Foreign Policy. Montreal, Quebec and Kingston, Ontario: McGill-Queens University Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-4051-4.
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