As part of the operations carried out by the United Kingdom Navy (Royal Navy) in the Caribbean Sea, the British Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, together with a team from the United States Coast Guard (USGC), intercepted a speedboat that sells drugs.
To carry out the requisition of the transported cargo, HMS Dauntless deployed a Wildcat helicopter, an aircraft in which support was provided to the attack operations carried out by the Royal Marines. The operation confiscated a total of 1,230 kg. of cocaine.
Continuing its navigation in the Caribbean Sea, the Royal Navy carries out support tasks for other US police agencies, where it monitors an irregular flight from Venezuela and alerts the ground forces seized another 550 kg of cocaine.
This type of interdiction operations is particular for a Type 45 destroyer, because it uses its special systems to identify aircraft and missiles to track an illegal aircraft, in a patrol work is not the main mission of this class of destroyer. , units designed to escort larger ships.
One of the officers of HMS Dauntless (unknown to the Royal Navy due to military protocol) stated WHAT “This shows that we are not only able to disrupt the flow of drugs at sea, but we also have the ability to identify and track air traffic suspected of carrying drugs.”.
Likewise, the official mentioned this “…This also highlights the importance of taking an inter-agency approach to combating drug trafficking, because our American counterparts were able to confiscate the plane upon arrival at its destination…”
HMS Dauntless, which participated for the second time in the multinational Operation UNITAS 2023, continues its deployment in the Caribbean Sea with the aim of increasing the presence of the United Kingdom in the adjacent British Overseas Territories, in addition to providing weather support. in storms that last from June to November.
It should be noted that before the maneuvers of the UNITAS participating ships began, HMS Dauntless also carried out preventive tasks against drug traffickers with the US Coast Guard.
