Earlier this month, Puget Sound-area U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy partnered with the Royal Canadian Navy for a two-day training exercise in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Salish Sea.
The training, aimed at readying the Royal Canadian Navy in helping U.S. counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, included units from Coast Guard Cutter Blue Shark, Coast Guard Cutter Osprey, Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Joint Harbor Operations Center, U.S. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island P-8 Poseidon fixed-wing aircraft, Royal Canadian Navy Kingston-class coastal defense vessel HMCS Saskatoon and Royal Canadian Navy Kingston-class coastal defense vessel HMCS Yellowknife.
“This joint naval exercise between the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Royal Canadian Navy demonstrates the strength of our commitment and partnership to secure each country’s shared maritime safety, security, and economic interests,” Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound commander Capt. Patrick Hilbert said.
CAF has been responsible for disrupting and seizing over 123 tons of cocaine in the last 15 years, according to the USCG.