Canadian Armed Forces' Operation CARIBBE 2014 in Full Swing

News Release

OTTAWA - Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMC Ships)Kingston and Glace Bay have joined HMC Ships Nanaimo and Whitehorse and a CP-140 Aurora aircraft detachment on Operation CARIBBE, Canada’s contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the Americas and Caribbean.

The concurrent deployment of four ships and an aircraft detachment marks a first in Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) history in support to Operation CARIBBE, Canada’s support to Operation MARTILLO – the multinational, joint, combined, and interagency effort among Western Hemisphere and European nations.

Operation CARIBBE demonstrates Canada’s commitment to address security challenges in the region by denying transnational criminal organizations air and maritime access to the coastal regions of Central America.

Quick Facts

The CAF have been conducting Operation CARIBBE since November 2006, and remain committed to working with Western Hemisphere and European partners in successfully disrupting illicit trafficking operations in the coastal regions of Central America.
HMC Ships Nanaimo, Whitehorse, Kingston and Glace Bay are Kingston-class vessels, designed for surveillance and patrolling of coastal waters.
As part of Operation CARIBBE 2013, the CAF contributed four CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft, four Kingston-class vessels (HMC Ships Edmonton, Kingston, Summerside and Yellowknife), two Halifax-class frigates (HMC Ships Ottawa and Ville de Québec), one supply vessel (HMCS Preserver), and one Victoria-class submarine (HMCS Victoria) to combat transnational crime, resulting in the seizure or disruption of more than 5 000 kilograms of cocaine.
As part of Operation CARIBBE 2014, the Royal Canadian Navy will periodically deploy warships from both the East and West Coasts, while the Royal Canadian Air Force will provide CP-140 Aurora aircraft from various long-range patrol squadrons, all in support of Operation MARTILLO. One CP-140 Aurora aircraft has already contributed to Operation CARIBBE 2014, completing a deployment this past January.
Operation CARIBBE is one of the many activities undertaken by the Government of Canada as part of Canada's broader commitment to engagement in the Americas.
Op CARIBBE directly supports the CAF mission to defend against threats and security challenges to Canada, North America, and our security partners.

Quotes

“Canada is proud of our military contribution to the multinational efforts to better combat illegal trafficking in international waters and airspace and to address security challenges in the Central American region. Every year, our efforts, and those of our partner nations, are responsible for the interception and seizure of millions of dollars of illicit drugs in this region’s international waters and airspace.”

- The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence

“Canadian Armed Forces ships and aircraft will continue to work with regional partner nations throughout 2014 to combat transnational criminal organizations from using waterways to smuggle illicit cargo. The success of Operation CARIBBE continues to benefit relations and enhance cooperation with our allies and partners in the Central American region.”

- Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command

“The RCN continues to seamlessly integrate with our partners in the region, including the US Coast Guard. We are proud of our crews and the impact they are having at sea as they contribute to the security of the region and of Canadians here at home.”

- Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander, Royal Canadian Navy

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: (613) 996-2353
Toll-Free: 1 866 377-0811

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2016-12-14

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Canadian Armed Forces' Operation CARIBBE 2014 in Full Swing

News Release

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