Coast Guard Unit Recognized In Counter-Drug Operation Success
(September 6, 2010) |
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Patrick Ward, left, acting deputy director for supply reduction and United States interdiction coordinator, presents Cmdr. Jon Totte,
commanding officer, pacific tactical law enforcement
team, with the 2009 United States Interdiction
Coordinator Award to the Coast Guard PACTACLET at
the Bay View Restaurant, here, Aug. 19. The award
was established to recognize superior performance of
front-line narcotics interdictors in the ongoing
battle against drug smugglers and the organizations
that support them. |
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MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO (MCN)
The Coast Guard
Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team was awarded the United
States Interdiction Coordinator Award at the bay View
Restaurant, here, Aug. 19. Patrick Ward, acting deputy
director for supply reduction and United States interdiction
coordinator, presented the PACTACLET the award for their
success in counter-drug operations in 2009.
“The U.S. Interdiction Coordinator Award was established to
recognize superior performance of front-line narcotics
interdictors in the ongoing battle against drug smugglers
and the organizations that support them,” said Lt. j. g.
Mark Byrne, officer in charge, law enforcement detachment
108, PACTACLET.
Award winners are recognized for their exceptional
innovation, tactics, aggressiveness and results, said Byrne.
“It feels good,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard
Sparks, Maritime Enforcement, Law-Enforcement Detachment
106, PACTACLET. “I was here the last time they awarded it;
it's nice to see the continued recognition.” |
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During 2009, PACTACLET LEDET's deployed on 15 U.S. and
allied naval vessels and conducted 43 counter-drug boardings
including seven self-propelled semi-submersible
interdictions.
The law enforcement detachments removed 58,208 kilograms of
cocaine during these deployments that was worth an estimated
street value of over $1.8 billion, said Byrne. The LEDET
case packages have resulted in the successful federal
prosecution of 82 illicit traffickers.
“Currently, there are 32 LEDET personnel deployed on 2
Allied vessels and one U.S. Navy vessel patrolling the
Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of
Operation Carib Shield and Operation Caper Focus,” said
Byrne.
“The PACTACLET also has these other accomplishments,” said
Byrne. “The Coast Guard Unit Commendation Award in July
2010, the qualification of four TACLET boarding officers in
the past three months, and the qualification of 35
newly-arrived personnel as TACLET boarding team members.” |
Article and photos by LCpl. Katalynn Thomas
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Copyright 2010 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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