RCN Public Affairs, 24 February 2024.
On February 4, while deployed on Operation Caribbe, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Margaret Brooke supported the interception of a drug smuggling vessel and seized 510 kg of cocaine in the Central Caribbean Sea.
The three people suspected of drug smuggling are now in custody of the United States government, and the vessel was disposed of at sea.
Margaret Brooke departed its home port of Halifax, N.S. on January 12 to deploy for six weeks on Operation Caribbe in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
“I am proud of the crew of HMCS Margaret Brooke and the members of the embarked United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment who have successfully interdicted a drug smuggling vessel,” said Commander Nicole Robichaud, Commanding Officer. “The sailors of HMCS Margaret Brooke have worked determinedly since Operation Caribbe commenced last month, between operational training and working closely with our United States partners. This collective effort enables us to achieve greater success in making the continent more secure from the threats posed by illicit trafficking.”
Featuring image credit: RCN. The United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment returns to HMCS Margaret Brooke.
19 thoughts on “HMCS Margaret Brooke intercepts smuggling vessel on Op Caribbe”
Wait! This can’t be true!
The ‘usual crowd’ routinely complains in this forum how much our ships are garbage and never sail, our government has no backbone, and our navy is incompetent!
What is going on!
Ubique,
Les
Remember: the RCN has no law enforcement capability on the high seas. That is why the embarked US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) does the actual arrest.
No enforcement capability with AOPS? Fair point. RCN should’ve sent a frigate. On the other hand, it’s amazing to see the volume of drug traffic in the region. Even an ice breaker can catch some. I though Colombian cartels use go-fast boats or something like that, which would be difficult to detect and intercept.
Sending a frigate is generally fairly wasteful when something like an AOPS or MCDV can and typically do these jobs just fine. The AOPS isn’t the one generally doing the actual interception, it acts as a mothership for its own force of fast boarding/interception craft alongside a platform to search for/coordinate searches for these smuggling vessels. Given the amount of extra capability on the AOPS for carrying and safely launch/recover up to four boats from specialized boat bays plus the quarters aboard for law enforcement and their equipment, these vessels are the best suited vessels in the RCN for these missions currently.
Good morning Fan,
As David said above, the law enforcement issue with the AOPS is not its weaponry but rather the lack of legal authority of its crew to undertake arrests and seizures on the high seas. The US Coast Guard has such authorities. Thus, its presence on Canadian warships for such missions.
Sending a frigate would not have resolved this legal problem and would have been far more expensive.
Ubique,
Les
Les, it seems David is actually being critical of the RCN because we don’t have the legal authority to conduct arrests like it is somehow detrimental to the RCN. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Canada allows USCG teams to operate from Canadian warships. We were never going to conduct the arrests and frankly why would we? The RCN doesn’t have that power anyways. We have had a great arrangement with the USCG for many years now and our ships have been very successful as you probably know in interdicting the flow of drugs into NA. AOPS is a great platform and the first one specifically set up to stage and support boarding parties with dedicated accommodations, staging area and storage. Working with the United States so closely is great in regards to gaining experience working with our allies.
Good morning Retired,
In rereading David’s comment I see that I likely misunderstood his intent. Thank you for steering me correctly.
I agree with all of your points.
AOPS were not simply bought for Arctic operations. I wonder if the Svalbard, which is lauded so much by some, is able to operate in Caribbean-like waters.
Ubique,
Les
Again, well said Les!
Les all ships can operate in the Caribbean, so the Svalbard could as well. It’s just a matter of how long and how efficient can they be. AOPS has extra AC capacity and cooling capacity built into the design. Svalbard is designed to operate exclusively in the Arctic with heavy shore support. AOPS can operated independently up to 4 months away if needed.
Both Kingston Class and AOPS have been highly successful conducting anti-drug operations with the USCG. In fact AOPS has been designed with these type of missions in mind. Sending a Halifax class is a waste of resources.
Good afternoon Sir,
I agree, a HFX class frigate would be more appropriate in the Red Sea. Of note, none were there either. Back in the day we used radars and SQS 510 looking for a small boat or a narco-sub. I realize that modern tactics changed and operational details are probably classified but I’m curious how those drug drivers got caught? Were they high (DUI) and bumped into Margaret Brooke at night? Stating the obvious, the Caribbean Sea is big. I guess intel community was involved. Otherwise it’s like looking for a needle in a hay stack.
Regards,
CNR Fan
CNR Fan, RCN ships have access to the latest platforms, sensors and intel on drug activities. All part of a team effort that results in the vessel of interest being arrested.
One could question why it is Canada’s business to police drug runners in the Caribbean. Surely this has little influence on the drug supply in Canada! On the other hand, this mission represents a rare opportunity to engage a genuine opponent with little risk. As training, that must be invaluable.
Good morning Michael,
Surely it is better to catch large quantities of drugs at sea rather than dribs and drabs on the street.
Do you have evidence that ocean seizures have little effect on the drug supply in Canada? I suspect that the cartels are like water, seeking to flow wherever they easily can.
Ubique,
Les
Hi Les,
It is always good to see our people doing something effectively and successfully. I am not unhappy with the decision to give the AOPS crews the opportunity to practice finding and intercepting small boats, which should surely be part of their role in securing Canada’s northern waters. However, we are now many decades into the war on drugs, and the strategy of cutting off supply is plainly a failure.
If restrictions on supply could succeed in reducing drug use (which I think unlikely), continuous and widespread deployments rather than sporadic deployments of one or a few ships, would be needed.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your comments.
I agree that the “war on drugs” has not been a roaring success. I wonder, though, how much worse the drug problem would be in Canada if the cartels had no problems shipping in their poisons in industrial quantities.
Interdiction is only part of the solution. Doing it continuously is obviously essential. I think that we should see the RCN’s occasional contributions as valuable add-ons to a steady USCG effort.
Ubique,
Les
Reply to Retired RCN of 28 Feb 24 18:40
Hi Retired,
Thank you so much for these facts that help differentiate the more capable Harry DeWolfs from the Svalbard.
I was particularly curious about the Svalbard’s engine cooling as I have seen/read a report that the DeWolfs’ engine cooling is designed to warm the cooling seawater up to the required temperature before it reaches the engines if it is Arctic cold or cool it down if it is Caribbean warm.
Do you know if this is correct?
Ubique,
Les
What you’re describing is Arctic Recirc and both ship classes have it, very common. In fact the Kingston Class has it as well. Any ship that operates in ice has to have it. It basically recirculates the SW so it doesn’t freeze the pipes if the water gets too cold. Designed to maintain the cooling to around 20 degrees. As far as I know just for Arctic operations. For warm weather it would be more cooling capacity.
Hi Retired,
Thank you for the education.
Just fyi, I have seen somewhere (YouTube???) a discussion that the DeWolfs also have the “mirror image” system for Caribbean waters.
Ubique,
Les