Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www.theprovince.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Nick Eagland Page: 10 SHIPS FROM B.C. HELP STEM FLOW OF COCAINE TO MEXICAN CARTELS MISSION Since 2006, the Canadian Armed Forces' Operation CARIBBE has been disrupting illicit drug trafficking in international waters between the U.S.-Mexico border and South America. With the help of maritime-patrol aircraft and drones, the 47-person crews of HMCS sister ships Edmonton and Saskatoon seek to identify suspicious vessels and seize drug shipments. Both Kingston-class coastal-defence vessels carry U.S. Coast Guard law-enforcement detachments consisting of an officer, chief and six-person boarding team. After departing on a 44-day mission from Esquimalt earlier this year, the Edmonton and Saskatoon blocked the shipment of roughly $160-million worth of cocaine, likely destined for Mexican cartels. Lt.-Cmdr. Lucas Kenward, the Edmonton's commanding officer, said such disruptions are frequent and increase stability in Central America. "It's a great mission, the crews love it," he said. SMUGGLERS 'Suspicious vessels' are usually 40-foot, fibreglass-hulled, 'go-fast' boats travelling from Colombia or Ecuador, with an open top and crew of two to five. These high-powered boats are loaded with large fuel drums. Their operators bring just enough water and food to survive gruelling trips, often more than 2,000 kilometres long. The smugglers carry GPS units and satellite phones, but seldom have weapons or life-jackets. "It's pretty remarkable when you actually see the conditions these guys are subjecting themselves to to move this stuff," Kenward said. To bring shipments as close to the Mexican cartels as possible, the smugglers travel up the Gulf of Tehuantepec or drop them off in Guatemala, Honduras or Costa Rica. INTERDICTIONS When a suspected smuggling vessel is found, the ships' captains are empowered by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to identify the vessel's flag state. A boarding team deploys to confirm the vessel's nationality and whether its operators are up to anything suspicious. The team inspects documentation and speaks with its command to verify the operators' claims. Depending on what they learn, the team may then conduct a safety inspection and see if contraband is on board. If contraband is found, the smugglers are detained, questioned and processed, transferred to a U.S. asset such as a warship, then taken to the U.S. for prosecution for trafficking. Kenward said such operations have stressful moments, but the threat of violence is quite low. "The cartels have very little interest in causing violence against grey-hulled vessels that are operating in that area, "he said. "The last thing they want is more vessels going down there." IMPACT On its latest mission, the Edmonton seized 1,250 kilograms of cocaine in two separate interdictions while another 600 kg were dumped overboard by smugglers who then fled, Kenward said. These drugs had an estimated value of $80 million and the Saskatoon achieved a similar feat. Kenward believes such operations are vital in reducing the flow of illicit cash and damage it causes in Central America. "Nothing compares to being on a bonafide operation where you're getting involved in something that is very, very tangibly contributing to stability in a region," Kenward added. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt