On the day before Valentine’s Day, some Naval Officers were bidding farewell to their loved ones as they departed for warm waters in Central and South America.
His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Edmonton departed from its home port in Esquimalt to begin a counter-drug trafficking mission in Central and South America.
The HMCS Edmonton is a ‘Kingston-class’ coastal defence ship that was built as a part of the Department of National Defence’s Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel Project and joined the Royal Canadian Navy’s fleet in 1997.
Since its first sailing, the HMCS Edmonton has been on several counter-drug trafficking missions and has recovered over 10,000 lbs of cocaine and other illicit drugs from traffickers and smugglers.
In total, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have contributed to the seizure of 120 metric tonnes of cocaine.
The vessel is once again joining Operation Caribbe which is a U.S.-led operation that began in 2006. In this operation, the warship will find and track vessels of interest in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
“We continue to strengthen our international relationships and demonstrate Canada’s commitment to address security challenges in the Americas,” said Lieutenant-Commander Tyler Smith, Commanding Officer, HMCS Edmonton.
“HMCS Edmonton is proud to be a part of Operation Caribbe along with our partner nations to enhance regional peace and security.”
In the announcement of the ship’s departure, the CAF did not disclose a return date for the vessel and its officers.
