UK Warship Returns from Drug-Busting Deployment

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UK WARSHIP RETURNS FROM DRUG-BUSTING DEPLOYMENT

Portsmouth-based warship HMS Lancaster returned home to the cheers of hundreds of loved ones in Portsmouth today (December 18) following a successful drug-busting deployment to the North Atlantic and Caribbean.

HMS Lancaster spent seven months in the region, seizing drugs with a total street value of £160m.

During six raids the ship intercepted 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and almost 1.5 tonnes of cannabis.

Lancaster also detained 23 drug-runners and disrupted a sizeable amount of drugs which were ditched in the sea.

Crew stepped off the ship carrying red roses for family and friends reflecting the ships connection with the namesake town of Lancaster. The red rose of Lancaster is the County flower of Lancashire.

Since leaving the UK in May, Lancaster has clocked up over 30,000 miles and made 20 port visits to 18 countries.

She visited all six of the British Overseas Territories in the region, starting with Bermuda and ending with Montserrat, as well as Commonwealth states such as Jamaica, Belize and Barbados.

She also stopped off at a number of other islands in the area such as Dutch Curacao, French Martinique, as well as visiting the South American country of Columbia.

In September Lancaster took part in Exercise Unitas – a week-long multinational exercise involving 16 warships and submarines from nine nations ranging from Canada to Chile.

The ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Peter Laughton, said,

“What Lancaster has achieved over the last seven months is nothing short of remarkable.

“The variety of roles that the ship has undertaken and the range of successes that have been achieved demonstrate the versatility of a frigate in this region.

“We have trained on a small scale with many islands’ coast guards as well as operated as part of a task group alongside other navies in Exercise Unitas, and our counter narcotic operations speak for themselves.

“Throughout all of this Lancaster has remained poised to respond to any natural disaster and provide life saving support.

“I am extremely proud of my ship’s company who have worked tirelessly over the last seven months on the front line of naval operations and ultimately protecting our nation’s interests.”

Lancaster’s weapon engineer officer and press officer Lieutenant Commander Adrian Gubby added,

“Seven months is a long time to be away from friends and family, however the successes we have seen on this deployment make the time away worth it.

“The press coverage of the deployment has been fantastic and I am proud that my team have been a part of spreading the good news of Lancaster being in the region during her various visits, ensuring the drug runners knew we were here to get them, and also let people at home know what we have been doing in the Caribbean.”

Able Seaman James Duffy, the coxswain of one of Lancaster’s sea boats who hails from the ship’s namesake town, said,

“This has been a really successful deployment and I am really proud to have been a part of it.

“All the guys have dug out and looked out for each other and it is the team effort by everyone on board Lancaster that has made us so successful.”

Press Release, December 19, 2013; Image: Royal Navy

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