Latest news with #Minneapolis-SaintPaul
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
USCG Tampa offloads $12.3 million in seized drugs after Caribbean bust
The Brief The Coast Guard offloaded 3,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana in Fort Lauderdale. The drugs, valued at $12.3 million, were seized during two Caribbean interdictions. The busts involved Coast Guard detachments and the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul on its maiden deployment. The U.S. Coast Guard ended Fleet Week Fort Lauderdale with a dramatic reminder of its mission at sea—offloading more than 3,700 pounds of seized cocaine and marijuana worth an estimated $12.3 million. The haul came from two separate interdictions in the Caribbean Sea during joint operations between the Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, including the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul and an embarked Navy helicopter unit. The effort reflects an aggressive push to curb drug trafficking through coordinated action across military and law enforcement branches. The backstory The seizures were led by crews from the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul during its maiden deployment, working in conjunction with Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 406 and Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50. "This is a testament to the hard work and skills of the ship's crew," said Cmdr. Steven Fresse, commanding officer of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul. "To make an immediate impact so early on in deployment shows how ready we are to act." Watchstanders from the Seventh Coast Guard District coordinated the law enforcement phase of the interdictions, which originated with detection and monitoring by the Joint Interagency Task Force-South in Key West. Timeline The process of interdicting illegal drugs in international waters requires layers of coordination. Detection typically begins with surveillance and intelligence operations, including aerial and maritime monitoring. Once a vessel suspected of trafficking is identified, the mission transitions into a law enforcement phase—led by the Coast Guard. After interception, seized contraband is documented, secured, and transported for offload. Wednesday's offload occurred at Port Everglades aboard the USCGC Tampa, a 270-foot cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. What they're saying Cmdr. Walter Krolman, commanding officer of the Tampa, emphasized the importance of combined efforts across U.S. sea services: "Fleet Week Fort Lauderdale was a great opportunity for our Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps crews to showcase our sea services to communities here in South Florida," he said. "Today's offload demonstrates the value of our collaborative joint force operations far out to sea in protecting and defending Americans here at home from threats abroad." The interdiction effort represents a growing trend of Navy-Coast Guard integration in counternarcotics missions, particularly in the Caribbean where trafficking routes remain active and dangerous. The Source This article is based on a U.S. Coast Guard press release issued by the Seventh Coast Guard District on April 24, 2025. All quotes, operational details, and drug seizure figures are directly sourced from the official statement, which credited the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, LEDET 406, Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50, and Joint Interagency Task Force-South with the successful interdictions. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
US Navy warship on first deployment makes two drug busts in 72 hours
Two alleged drug smuggling operations were brought to a swift halt this month by the Freedom-class littoral combat ship Minneapolis-Saint Paul within a 72-hour span, resulting in the seizure of an estimated $12 million in illicit drugs during the ship's maiden deployment. The ship set sail on March 26 from its homeport of Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and steamed for the Caribbean Sea and the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations. Just weeks into the deployment, the crew intercepted 580 kilograms of cocaine and 2,480 pounds of marijuana through combined air-surface operations. 'We train diligently and stand ready to execute interdiction missions at moment's notice,' Cmdr. Steven Fresse, commanding officer of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, said in a release. 'To be able to make an immediate impact so early on during our maiden deployment is a testament to the hard work and skills of the ship's crew.' As an LCS, the vessel, which deployed in support of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, is designed for speed and operating in near-shore environments. The ship is currently assigned to Commander, Task Force 45, the surface task force of 4th Fleet responsible for carrying out combined operations, strengthening partnerships with Latin American and Caribbean nations and supporting law enforcement in counter-drug trafficking operations. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul's crew includes an embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment plus the 'Valkyries' of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50 Detachment 3. The U.S. Navy regularly partners with LEDET teams to prevent illegal drugs from reaching the United States through maritime routes. Drug interdictions in the Caribbean are executed by the Coast Guard under the authority of the Seventh Coast Guard District based in Miami. 'The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul executed their duties seamlessly in the combined effort to protect the homeland from illicit maritime trafficking,' Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, said in the release. 'Working in coordination with the Coast Guard and our joint partners, we look forward to seeing continued measurable impact delivered by the professional and talented crew of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul across the region.'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
USS Minneapolis-St. Paul makes several drug busts in Caribbean Sea
The Brief The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul made multiple alleged drug busts in the Caribbean Sea within a 72-hour span. Almost 1,500 pounds of cocaine, worth nearly $10 million, were confiscated during the bust. About 2,500 pounds of marijuana, worth almost $3 million, were also confiscated. CARIBBEAN SEA (FOX 9) - The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul stopped two drug smuggling operations within a 72-hour span in the Caribbean Sea. What we know According to the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul made two alleged drug busts in the Caribbean Sea, both within 72 hours. The vessels smuggling the drugs were taken out by a combination of air and surface operations, officials said. By the numbers In the busts, 1,278.9 pounds of cocaine, worth $9,463,860, and 2,480 pounds of marijuana, worth $2,807,360, were confiscated. What they're saying This was the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul was on her maiden deployment during the busts. "We train diligently and stand ready to execute interdiction missions at moment's notice, said Minneapolis-Saint Paul commanding officer Cmdr. Steven Fresse, "To be able to make an immediate impact so early on during our maiden deployment is a testament to the hard work and skills of the ship's crew." "The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul executed their duties seamlessly in the combined effort to protect the homeland from illicit maritime trafficking." said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. "Working in coordination with the Coast Guard and our joint partners, we look forward to seeing continued measurable impact delivered by the professional and talented crew of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul across the region." The Source This report was written from a press release from the U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
