Littoral combat ship Milwaukee confiscated more than $20 million in suspected cocaine from a drug smuggling go-fast vessel in U.S. 4th Fleet this month, according to the Navy.
The ship, along with U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 402, jumped into action after a maritime patrol aircraft spotted the vessel in the Caribbean Jan. 7. The Milwaukee dispatched its MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter and a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB), and the Coast Guard detachment boarded the vessel.
Roughly 315 kilograms of suspected cocaine were uncovered, which the Navy said had a total value of approximately $22 million.
“There is an electric atmosphere onboard anytime we can accomplish a mission that has a direct impact on making America safer; it contributes to that winning mindset,” Cmdr. Brian Forster, the Milwaukee’s commanding officer, said in a Navy news release.
“The crew is excited to have accomplished our first boarding, and they performed flawlessly from start to finish,” Forster said. “It is a good feeling knowing that a large number of drugs will not make it onto the streets of America or our partners in the Caribbean.”
Five suspected drug traffickers were detained.
The Milwaukee deployed to U.S. 4th Fleet in December, but was sidelined later that month at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
The whole crew was fully vaccinated, and those infected only “exhibited mild or no symptoms,” according to the Navy.
The ship got back to sea Jan. 4.
Judges should deliver their decision in the coming weeks.
Putin has declared victory in the eastern Ukraine region of Luhansk, but the high cost of Russian gains may limit a new advance.
Retired Vice Adm. Rich Brown was named accountable for the loss of the amphibious ship Bonhomme Richard but was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing in December. Six months later, he's facing censure from the Navy secretary.
The last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II will lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol.
About 6,000 Navy, Army and Air Force families were affected by the toxic spill. Their trust in the military remains low.
Providing savings to service members is of particular concern right now due to the inflation in food prices.
The Supreme Court allowed a former state trooper to sue Texas over his claim that he was forced out of his job when he returned from Army service in Iraq.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status and apply to join NATO. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had blocked the move, insisting the Nordic pair change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists.
A ban on Chinese-made products could affect sales of clothing, shoes, baby items, home appliances, electronics, computers, Apple phones and lots more.
Congress appears poised to save five littoral combat ships from an early retirement, but the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee is saying that the fight to ditch the ships is not yet over.
Extremist groups are shifting toward a more militia-style environment, targeting veterans for recruitment, valuing their skills and preying on their patriotism.
President Joe Biden welcomed members of the Wounded Warrior Project to the White House for the group's annual solider ride.
Advocates say racial inequality in access to veterans benefits can upend the lives of Black people who proudly served their country.
After neglecting strategic sealift for too long, some in Congress are trying a new approach to get the Navy and the Maritime Administration to invest in new US-made ships.
The governor of Okinawa is calling for further reduction of the U.S. military presence there amid growing fear of regional military tension.
Load More