May 18, 2020

IAAFA Adapts during COVID-19, Continues International Professional Military Education via Distance Learning

In March 2020, when the nation started shelter-in-place orders due to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, which forges international friendship and security cooperations through education and training, coordinated for all of their international students to return to their home countries. Despite relocations, IAAFA got back up and running with distance learning courses facilitated by videoconferencing software and because of that IAAFA’s Alpha Class of 2020 graduated May 15, 2020 via a virtual graduation ceremony.

May 14, 2020

USS Lassen, Embarked Coast Guard Team Recover Illegal Drugs in Caribbean

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82)  with embarked U.S. Coast Guard  (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) team recovered more than 3,500 pounds of marijuana, May 2.  While on routine patrol, approximately 15 miles northeast of Navassa Island an embarked MH-60R Sea Hawk assigned to the “Proud Warriors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72, Combat Element (CEL) 2 located a 35-foot go-fast vessel with three suspected drug smugglers aboard throwing packages overboard.

May 14, 2020

Disrupting Drug Traffickers - USS Tornado Completes Counter Drug Patrol

Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Tornado (PC 14) returned to Mayport, Florida, May 13, following a 68-day counter narcotics patrol in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. Tornado contributed to Joint Interagency Task Force South’s disruption of more than 35,000 kilograms of cocaine and almost 4,000 pounds of marijuana. This led to keeping an estimated wholesale price of 716 million dollars’ worth of drugs off U.S. streets.

May 8, 2020

Task Force Marines Certified for Deployment During Pandemic

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Southern Command certified for a crisis response deployment to the Latin American and Caribbean region April 23.

May 7, 2020

Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk Returns to Homeport from Counter-drug Patrol

KEY WEST, Fla.—The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC-913) crew returned to their homeport in Key West following a 65-day counter-drug patrol throughout the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea in support of U.S. Southern Command Joint Interagency Task Force—South, as well as the Coast Guard’s 11th District and 7th District.

April 28, 2020

Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane returns home after patrol in Caribbean

The Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane returned to its homeport of Portsmouth, Virginia on April 26 following a 71-day patrol of the Central Caribbean. The cutter’s multi-mission patrol resulted in the interdiction of 1,306 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of over $2.3 million. Harriet Lane conducted its patrol in support of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District and the United States Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force South. 

April 27, 2020

Oregon-based Coast Guard Cutter Returns Home after 65-day Counter-Narcotic Patrol, $21.5M in Cocaine Seized

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast (WMEC 623) returned home Friday to Astoria following a 65-day counternarcotic patrol to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The cutter intercepted and boarded five suspected smuggling vessels, including one go-fast-style panga, while patrolling international waters off the coasts of Mexico and Central America.  Steadfast’s crew apprehended three suspected smugglers and seized 1,252 pounds of pure cocaine worth an estimated $21.5 million.

April 24, 2020

Coast Guard, Panamanian authorities stop drug smuggling operation near Panama

The Coast Guard stopped a drug smuggling operation, April 13, in international waters northeast of Panama.

April 24, 2020

Bringing Them Home

Approximately 90 U.S. citizens who were previously unable to return home from South America, were transported to Duke Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

April 21, 2020

Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore Offloads Approximately 1,300 pounds of Marijuana in Miami Beach

The Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore (WPC-1109) crew offloaded approximately 1,300 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $1.1 million dollars, April 13, at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach.