December 4, 2014 - Ottawa - National Defence
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMC Ships) Brandon and Yellowknife end their participation in Operation CARIBBE 2014 today, concluding Canada’s annual contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have conducted Operation CARIBBE since November 2006 and remain committed to working with Western Hemisphere and European partners to address security challenges in the region and successfully disrupt illicit trafficking operations. Defence Minister Rob Nicholson thanked the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who served alongside Canada`s allies in this year’s operation, and commended them for their work in contributing to North American security.
• While supporting United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments, the efforts of CAF personnel on Operation CARIBBE 2014 directly contributed to the seizure of more than four metric tons of cocaine and more than 500 kilograms of marijuana.
• As part of Operation CARIBBE 2014, the CAF contributed four CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft, seven Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (HMC Ships Nanaimo, Whitehorse, Kingston, Glace Bay, Summerside, Brandon, and Yellowknife), one Halifax-class frigate (HMCS Calgary), and one Iroquois-class destroyer (HMCS Athabaskan) with two embarked CH-124 Sea King helicopters.
• HMC Ships sailed 281 days, CP-140 Auroras flew 310 hours, and CH-124 Sea Kings flew 185 hours, providing important surveillance, detection, and disruption capabilities during Operation CARIBBE 2014.
• During Operation CARIBBE 2014, HMC Ships Kingston, Glace Bay, Nanaimo, and Whitehorse, and one CP-140 Aurora deployed concurrently, marking the largest simultaneous deployment to the CAF contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking.
• Operation CARIBBE is one of the many activities undertaken by the Government of Canada and DND/CAF as part of Canada's broader commitment to engagement in the Americas. This annual operation directly supports the CAF's mission to defend against threats and security challenges to Canada, North America, and our defence and security partners.
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