LCS 1 seizes drugs in smuggler encounter - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

LCS 1 seizes drugs in smuggler encounter

The littoral combat ship Freedom seized a quarter-ton of cocaine in the Caribbean on Monday in its first encounter with smugglers during a “trial deployment” to the 4th Fleet area of operations, according to the Navy.

When U.S. and international observers spotted a “go-fast boat” outside Colombian territorial waters, the Navy said, Freedom launched its MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, which flew over the drug runners and prompted them to dump their drugs overboard. The boat turned and crossed into Colombian waters, where the Colombian navy took up the chase.

Information released by the U.S. Navy on Tuesday did not make clear whether the drug runners had ultimately been arrested. But the Navy did say the Freedom’s crew pulled the dumped bales of cocaine from the water and will keep them on board as evidence in case prosecutors try to bring the smugglers to trial.

In addition to its core crew, Freedom is carrying sailors from its “modified surface warfare package,” as well as sailors and Coast Guardsmen for two boarding teams. Its helicopter belongs to detachment two of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, the Sea Knights, and carries a Coast Guard fire team to shoot at drug boats, if needed, to get them to stop.

“Our combined team of ship’s crew, mission package, aviation detachment and Coast Guard [law enforcement detachment] showed great teamwork and resolve,” the Freedom’s commander, Cmdr. Randy Garner, said in a Navy announcement.

The Freedom sailed Feb. 16 from Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on what commanders have called a “trial deployment,” during which the ship will take missions in the Caribbean for a few weeks before arriving at its homeport of San Diego.