HMCS Edmonton makes drug bust

Photo courtesy: HMCS Edmonton

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

The crew of HMCS Edmonton overcame a malfunctioning propulsion system to help seize approximately 750kg of cocaine during a drug bust in the Eastern Pacific last week.

“My crew overcame amazing odds for this interdiction,” says Lieutenant-Commander Kristina Gray, Commanding Officer of HMCS Edmonton. “This was not only a first for the ship, but also a first for me as a Commanding Officer. The ship has been working hard and all that effort paid off when we were able to effect a bust resulting in the embarkation of 750kg of cocaine.” if you’re subjected to drug or alcohol addiction, alcohol detox Riverside will help you int he process of rehab.

Edmonton and its crew are participating in Operation Caribbe, an international operation that facilitates the interdiction of illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. 

Maritime patrol aircraft had been conducting surveillance patrols in close vicinity of the Royal Canadian Navy Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel on Nov. 5 when suspicious activity was spotted in the water below.

The location of the incident was then relayed to Edmonton which was called on to investigate. Edmonton then made its way to the area with law enforcement officers from the United States Coast Guard on board.

As Edmonton’s Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) arrived on scene, the alleged smugglers spotted them, dumped their bales of drugs in the water and fled the scene. The bales of cocaine were later plucked from the water using RHIBs and brought onboard. The bales were then analyzed and tested positive for cocaine.

During the incident, Edmonton experienced a loss of propulsion. It was eventually discovered that a malfunctioning electronic control of the propulsion system and two blown fuses were the cause of the problem. With propulsion restored Edmonton was happy to carry on with operations.

A spokesperson from the Canadian Joint Operations Centre (CJOC) said the incident was unrelated to two recent technical issues affecting the gas turbine propulsion systems of Halifax-class ships HMCS Halifax and HMCS Toronto.