Navy ship interdicts a whole bunch of cocaine December 15, 2020 The littoral combat ship Gabrielle Giffords interdicted more than $100 million worth of cocaine from a low-profile vessel Dec. 5 in the Pacific Ocean. (Navy) But earlier this month, the U.S. Navy put a crimp in the supply line when it interdicted roughly 6,200 pounds of booger sugar with an estimated wholesale value of $106 million, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command announced in a release. The littoral combat ship Gabrielle Giffords was underway with a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment embarked onboard when they intercepted a “low-profile vessel” in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Dec. 14, 2020
December 14, 2020 12:30 PM
USNI News Graphic
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Dec. 14, 2020, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.
Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:
296
In Japan
Capt. Luke Frost departs the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) after a change of command ceremony. Capt. Kenneth Ward relieved Frost as the ship’s commanding officer on Dec. 11, 2020. US Navy Photo
The Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 407 seized an estimated 2,810 kilograms of suspected cocaine, Dec. 5.
While on routine patrol, Gabrielle Giffords was diverted to intercept a low-profile vessel (LPV). Gabrielle Giffords deployed one of her helicopters, assigned to the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, to provide over watch and ensure compliance while the embarked LEDET and small boats were deployed to achieve positive control and begin boarding of the LPV.
Gabrielle Giffords and the embarked LEDET searched the vessel and recovered approximately 134 bales, for an estimated 2,810 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth over an estimated wholesale value of $106 million. Three suspected drug traffickers were also detained.