US$33M in cocaine seized in Caribbean

TIMES INT'L

Canada’s Defence Department said that the Canadian military has completed a month-long deployment to the Caribbean Sea, where it helped intercept US$33 million worth of cocaine.

The defence department said Canadian forces were part of a multinational team focused on stopping overseas drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the East Pacific. It said the HMCS Toronto and two CP-140 aircraft were part of a U.S.-led task force that intercepted more than 1,650 kilogrammes of cocaine during its month-long deployment.

The defence department said about 250 Canadians also participated in the mission. It said it was the first time the U.S. Coast Guard’s law-enforcement detachment has used a Canadian Navy ship to conduct operations.

“I’m very proud of the part played by the men and women of HMCS Toronto, and our aircrews, in keeping drugs off Canadian streets,” said Canada’s Defence Minister Peter MacKay in a statement. “Our sailors and air personnel are a key component of international efforts to interdict cocaine destined for North America,” he added. Canada has been part of multinational operations to combat drug smuggling in the Caribbean Basin and East Pacific since 2006. (CMC)

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