USS Elrod Recovers 4,840 Pounds of Drugs in Caribbean

U.S Navy and Coast Guard personnel assigned to the guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG-55) signal toward narcotics bales April 21, 2012 during recovery operations in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andy Barrera/Released)

USS ELROD, At Sea (NNS) -- Guided missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) recovered 89 bales of cocaine in support of Operation Martillo on April 20 in the Western Caribbean Sea.

An SH-60B Sea Hawk assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 60 Det. 3, embarked on board Elrod responded after receiving a transmission from a P-3 operated by U.S. Customs Border Protection.

Elrod joined in pursuit, along with authorities from Panama, as two 40-foot twin-engine vessels tried to evade authorities in the waters of the Western Caribbean, resulting in the drugs being subsequently jettisoned into the sea.

The Navy-Coast Guard response team recovered 89 bales of cocaine, weighing 4,840 pounds, with an estimated value of more than $362 million.

"I am very proud of the teamwork and collaborative effort between the ship, our air detachment and our USCG Law Enforcement Detachment," said Cmdr. Jack Killman, Elrod's commanding officer. "Our mission is clear; to disrupt illicit trafficking that jeopardizes the safety in the region and ultimately our own national security."

This seizure is in addition to the 1,000 lbs. recovered by Elrod March 22.

Operation Martillo (Spanish for 'hammer') is a U.S., European and Western Hemisphere partner nation effort targeting illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus. U.S. military participation is being led by Joint Interagency Task Force-South, a component of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). Operation Martillo is a component of the U.S. government's coordinated interagency regional security strategy in support of the White House strategy to combat transnational organized crime and the U.S. Central America Regional Security Initiative.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations. It does so by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

USS Elrod Returns From Med Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mandy Hunsucker, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic



NORFOLK (NNS) -- Approximately 200 Sailors greeted friends and family members, Dec. 3, when the guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) returned to Naval Station Norfolk after completing a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Elrod supported theater security cooperation by participating in regional exercises with allies and making diplomatic port calls.

The crowd waited patiently while line handlers moored the ship to the pier.

"We are very glad he's back, and we can't wait to see him," said Duanda Brown of Elrod Sailor Electrician's Mate 1st Class Derrick Brown. "It's been so long, and I can't wait to introduce him to his new nephew today."

After some time past, Sailors were able to greet their loved ones.

"This was my first deployment, and it wasn't bad at all," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Greg Waikel as he met his new son for the first time. "We hit almost 30 ports, and I got to see a lot of new things. It was fun but I'm glad to be home."

The crew visited 26 different ports where it participated in regional exercises with allies and strengthened American diplomacy.

"The crew performed exceptionally throughout the deployment," said Cmdr. Todd Beltz, commanding officer, Elrod. "With 26 port calls in 24 weeks, we were never able to get into a routine, and that's one of the things you try to do while deployed. Everything they did, from sea-and-anchor details to interactions with the many countries, was top-notch."

Elrod is a multipurpose escort vessel deployed for the protection of amphibious groups, convoys and underway replenishment forces. In peacetime, Elrod can be employed as an escort with strike groups or operate independently in support of a variety of missions including theater security cooperation, counter narco-terrorism operations, maritime security operations and air, surface and undersea warfare.