Operation Caribbe

Operation Caribbe is the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the elimination of illegal trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean by organized crime. The operation began in 2006 and its mandate has been altered twice since then.

History
Operation Caribbe began in November 2006. In October 2010 the mission was expanded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Canada and the United States that allowed law enforcement detachments from the United States Coast Guard to operate from Canadian warships deployed on Operation Caribbe.

In January 2012, Operation Caribbe was folded into the umbrella operation, Operation Martillo, which is a joint multinational effort led by the United States to eliminate illicit trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, the eastern Pacific Ocean and the coastal areas of the Central American nations.

Command Structure
Subject to the operational command of Operation Martillo, any forces assigned to Operation Caribbe are subordinate to the United States Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. Within the Canadian Armed Forces, the lead command is the Canadian Joint Operations Command. The Canadian forces deployed to Operation Caribbe thus far have been warships from the Royal Canadian Navy and Lockheed CP-140 Auroras and crew from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Mission
Canadian warships deployed on Operation Caribbe work in a support role, locating and tracking any vessels or targets of interest. Unless provided with law enforcement officers from the United States Coast Guard, the Canadian warships do not participate in the interdiction of those targets. The CP-140 Aurora aircraft and their crews patrol in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Pacific Ocean to track targets of interest. They do not participate in the interdiction of suspicious targets.

Results
In 2010, HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283), HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331), HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) and HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509) were deployed. The warships intercepted more than 29 metric tons of illegal drugs.

In 2011, HMCS Algonquin, HMCS Athabaskan (DDG 282), HMCS Toronto, HMCS St. John's (FFH 340), HMCS Kingston (MM 700), HMCS Goose Bay (MM 707), HMCS Moncton (MM 708), HMCS Summerside (MM 711), HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878) and seven CP-140 Auroras were deployed. HMCS St. John's aided USCGC Cypress (WLB-210) in recovering 6750 kilograms of cocaine from a scuttled vessel. HMCS Toronto handed over a small boat to the Nicaraguan Navy which contained 68 bales of cocaine.

In 2012, HMCS Iroquois (DDG 280), HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341), HMCS Goose Bay, HMCS Kingston, HMCS Preserver (AOR 510) and CP-140 Aurora aircraft on five occasions were deployed. On 28 November 2012 HMCS Ottawa supported United States law enforcement personnel in boarding a suspicious fishing vessel. The boarding resulted in the seizure of 36 bales of cocaine weighing 1086 kilograms. Between November 18 and 29, CP-140 Aurora crews assisted in the seizure, through surveillance and detection, of 144 bales of cocaine weighing 4300 kilograms.

In 2013, HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332), HMCS Kingston, HMCS Summerside, HMCS Yellowknife (MM 706), HMCS Edmonton (MM 703), HMCS Victoria (SSK 876), HMCS Preserver and four CP-140 Aurora aircraft and crew were deployed. Canadian participation resulted in the assistance of seizing 5080 kilograms of illegal drugs during the year.

In 2014, HMCS Kingston, HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701), HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702), HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705) and a CP-140 Aurora and crew have been deployed. Kingston and Glace Bay completed their six-week deployments and returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia in April 2014. While returning from the operation, Kingston had a small fire aboard, which was dealt with and no casualties were incurred. The operation resulted in the interception of 550 kilograms of cocaine. HMCS Summerside joined Operation Caribbe in June. Beginning in September, HMCS Athabaskan joined the operation. On 1 October, the destroyer participated in the seizure of 820 kg of cocaine valued at $24.5 million.

In January 2015, HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) deployed to the eastern Pacific Ocean as part of the operation.