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On Friday, the Navy revealed it is dispatching a third destroyer to the southern border to bolster the ongoing initiatives aimed at monitoring the U.S.-Mexico boundary, with the goal of reducing illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
Navy representatives announced that the USS Cole, which is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has left Mayport, Florida, to assist in operations along the southern border.
Earlier this year, the USS Spurance deployed from its homeport of San Diego, and the USS Gravely deployed from its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia.
Both ships are currently navigating waters adjacent to Mexico, each carrying a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) team. These crews will collaborate closely with the Coast Guard to disrupt drug trafficking activities.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch)
“USS Gravely remains at the forefront of maritime operations, ready to take on any challenge,” USS Gravely Cmdr. Gregory Piorun said. “We will continue to stand strong, protect vital waters, and ensure that justice prevails. True to our motto, we remain always, ‘First to Conquer.’”
The USS Spruance deploys to the U.S. Northern Command Area of Responsibility. (U.S. Navy)
Gravely helped seize an estimated 860 pounds of illegal drugs from a vessel in the Caribbean Sea on May 25. The interdiction by Gravely was conducted by the ship’s Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team alongside a LEDET assigned to the ship.
The VBSS team boarded the vessel and discovered and seized 19 bales of cocaine, with an approximate weight of 860 pounds, estimated to be valued at more than $13.6 million, according to the Navy.
“This operation supports the administration’s focus on integrated homeland defense and maritime border security,” Capt. Raymond Jackson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, said. “By uniting Coast Guard law enforcement expertise with Navy reach and surveillance, we’re enhancing deterrence, increasing domain awareness and reinforcing our commitment to protecting the homeland.”
