Navy Deploys Third Destroyer to Support Border Operations

The Navy announced on Friday that it has dispatched a third destroyer to the southern U.S. border as part of its ongoing effort to patrol the US-Mexico border and address issues of illegal immigration and drug smuggling. The USS Cole, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, departed from Mayport, Florida, specifically to assist with these border operations.

Earlier this year, the USS Spurance was sent from San Diego, while another destroyer left from Norfolk, Virginia. Currently, these ships are operating in waters off both coasts of Mexico. Furthermore, the Coast Guard is working closely with a law enforcement team to disrupt drug trafficking.

The USS Cole will take over operational duties, taking the place of the USS Gravely, and it’s expected to assist the US Northern Command. The ship entered the US Gulf on March 15 and has since been supported by a P-8 aircraft based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, aiming to enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to identify illegal activities.

Commander Gregory Piorn, part of the USS’s leadership, expressed confidence in their operations. “We’re ready to face any challenge and continue to protect essential waters,” he stated, reiterating their commitment to success.

So far this month, the focus has been on maritime drug enforcement, highlighted by the seizure of around 860 pounds of illegal drugs from a vessel in the Caribbean. The Navy’s VBSS team reported that they boarded the boat and discovered 19 bales of cocaine, indicating a significant operation against drug trafficking.

Colonel Raymond Jackson, who leads the Coast Guard’s Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, emphasized the importance of integrating naval capabilities with Coast Guard law enforcement to enhance overall security and deterrence around U.S. maritime borders.