BRITISH NAVY SHIP HMS Lancaster’s presence in the Caribbean waters has led to the interdiction and destruction of more than two tonnes of illegal narcotics.
Yesterday, as the ship made its final stop in Barbados as part of its six and a half month deployment in the Caribbean, its captain, Commander Peter Laughton, explained that though the ship’s primary purpose was to provide humanitarian assistance throughout the hurricane season, its narcotic operations were hugely successful with six separate drugs busts.
Laughton said a total of 1.3 tonnes of marijuana and 1.1 tonnes of cocaine valued at £160 million (BDS$521m) were recovered.
Lieutenant Commander Adrian Gubby explained: “It is not just what we seize or what we stop, it is that our ship’s presence in the region deters people from [trafficking] because word gets around that we are here and our port visits are critical to that.”
Gubby added that with the media telling the stories of the port visits across the region, drug runners knew the ship was in the area and it temporarily stopped them from running those drugs.
The ship, which made over 20 stops in the Caribbean and Britain’s other overseas territories, had been deployed since the beginning of the hurricane season.
Laughton, who took command of the ship last week, said the 200 crew members would undertake several civilian activities and engage in sporting events while docked in Barbados. A nine-member team would be working with the Barbados Legion to refurbish the house of a widow of a World War II veteran in Martin’s Bay, St John.
Additionally, a 12-member team will take part in the Independence Day Parade on Saturday before the ship leaves on Monday for home.
Laughton said some of the crew had been away for at least nine months and with Christmas approaching, they were looking forward to the end of the deployment. (LK)
