Warship seizes 600 pounds of cocaine

By Gary Robbins 6 a.m.Jan. 18, 2013


The Gary is one of six Perry-class frigates homeported in San Diego. US Navy

The Navy says the San Diego-based frigate Gary seized 600 pounds of cocaine during a high seas raid as part of Operation Martillo, a multi-national effort underway off Central America.

The bust occurred on January 4th and came during a week in which the Gary boarded three vessels and stopped the smuggling of 2,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $272 million. The Navy did not disclose specifically where the raids occurred. But Operation Martillo has focused heavily on the coastal waters off Central America.

The Navy also said that the Gary, which is operating with a Coast Guard detachment on board, sank the vessel that it raided on Jan. 4th because the craft had become a hazard to navigation.

In a statement, NCIS Agent Leatrice Daniels, who is on the Gary, said, "This was one of those vessels we were chasing in the dark. There was great open communication with everybody involved. Everything just flowed, from pursuit to initial contact and boarding."

Gary is the latest San Diego frigate to make a high profile seizures during Operation Martillo. The Curts, which will be decommissioned on Jan. 25, captured $25 million in illicit drugs in late 2012. Another local frigate, the Thach, left San Diego this week to participate in Martillo.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/18/navy-cocaine-seize-colombia/