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USS Stump Scores Again, Intercepts Smuggling Vessel in the Caribbean

By Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class (SW) David Vail, USS Stump Public Affairs

September 15, 2003, CARIBBEAN SEA (NNS) - Acting in concert with Maritime Patrol aircraft and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Decisive (WMEC 629), USS Stump (DD 978) intercepted and destroyed a narcotics smuggling vessel while conducting counter-drug operations in the Caribbean Sea.

After receiving intelligence information provided by the Joint Interagency Task Force-South, in Key West, Fla., Stump was directed to intercept a vessel suspected of smuggling illegal narcotics south of Jamaica.

After being detected by Maritime Patrol aircraft, the suspect vessel immediately jettisoned its illicit cargo and attempted to escape. While Decisive recovered the discarded contraband, Stump pursued the suspect vessel at speeds exceeding 30 knots. As the vessel failed to comply with boarding instructions, a Coast Guard MH-68A Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron helicopter, operating from Stump's flight deck, stopped the fleeing vessel by disabling its engines with gunfire.

Stump's embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 107, led by Lt. j.g. Dave Yadrick, boarded the stricken drug-runner and detained the four-man crew. The disabled smuggling vessel was declared a hazard to navigation and sunk by small caliber gunfire from Stump. Decisive subsequently recovered 82 bales of cocaine from the sea, weighing more than 4,000 lbs., worth an estimated street value of $50 million.

"The success of these counter-drug operations helps to disrupt flow of drug money to terrorists," said Gunner's Mate Seaman Brent Hughson, a member of Stump's .50-caliber machine-gun crew.

This was Stump's second successful counter-drug action of this deployment. While patrolling the eastern Pacific in July, Stump intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 3,500 pounds of cocaine, and detained eight suspected smugglers.

Stump departed her homeport of Norfolk, Va., June 2, 2003, for a routine six-month deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command area of responsibility, which includes the Caribbean Sea, eastern Pacific and southern Atlantic. Stump is a Commander, Naval Surface Group 2 ship assigned to Destroyer Squadron 6.


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