The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) announced the conclusion of its anti-narco operations in the Caribbean high seas for 2015, withdrawing the last of its Royal Canadian Navy vessels hunting cartel traffickers.
Starting in November 2006, Operation CARIBBE has been Canada’s military contribution to the US led Operation MARTILLO, which also involves European allies on the frontlines of the the war on drugs, disrupting the narco networks supplying global drug markets.
This year the CAF touted its latest mission for seizing “18.5 metric tons of cocaine and 3 metric tons of marijuana, more than any other year since the CAF’s contribution began in 2006.”
As of early 2015 figures, over the last four years the US government reports that Op MARTILLO netted 400 metric tons of narcotics.
Concluding the 2015 edition of CARIBBE, HMC Ships Brandon and Whitehorse recently arrived home in Canada after their deployment.
During the 44-day deployment both ships smashed the record for most narcotics disrupted in the history of Op CARIBBE, intercepting a combined total of approximately 9,800 kilograms, beating the previous record held by HMC ships Whitehorse and Nanaimo that captured a total of 5,934 kg earlier this year in the Eastern Pacific.
“I have seen the terrible damage inflicted onto Canadian cities and citizens caused by organized crime and their business in drug trafficking,” said Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan, once a Vancouver Police officer who dealt with the city’s infamous drug problem.
“This year’s record success on Operation CARIBBE is a testament to the Canadian Armed Forces and particularly the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s dedication and perseverance to work with our allies in complex environments for the safety and security of the citizens of this continent.”