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News from the Dominican Republic as of
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Coast Guard and Dominican Republic Navy conclude enforcement operation in Mona Passage
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| Published on Monday, September 7, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- US Coast Guard Cutters Venturous (WMEC 625), Kodiak Island (WPB-1341) and several vessels from the Dominican Republic Navy concluded a seven-day joint maritime law enforcement operation in the Mona Passage Saturday off the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic.
“Working together and developing ways to improve and increase US and Dominican Republic interoperability are critical to our collective success in countering illicit maritime trafficking,”said Lt. Cmdr. Derek Cromwell, US Coast Guard Liaison in the Dominican Republic.
“This is an operation that helps combat international narcotraficking and at the same time helps us become more efficient in times of joint interaction between military services of other countries, in this case the US Coast Guard,” said Capt Anthony Jiminian, Chief of Dominican Republic Naval Operations.
During this operation, officers from the Dominican Republic Navy embarked and served as shipriders aboard the two Coast Guard cutters. They assisted in coordination efforts, conducted professional exchange, and shared local area knowledge.
The coordinated actions between the Dominican Republic’s Navy, National Drug Control Division (DNCD) and Joint Interagency Task Force-DEPROSER (Defend, Protect and Serve) tactical response teams, US Coast Guard cutters, US Customs and Border Protection aircraft, and JIATF-South resulted in the successful disruption of an airdrop Tuesday evening off the south coast of Isla Saona, Dominican Republic. Due to the increased law enforcement presence in the area, a suspect airplane was unable to drop contraband and forced to return to South America.
"We were excited for the chance to work with our partners from the Dominican Republic Navy to stop illicit activity in the Mona Pass. This operation was a great learning experience and has ultimately strengthened the ties between both countries,” said Cmdr. Ted St. Pierre, Coast Guard Cutter Ventrous' commanding officer.
The Venturous, a 210 Medium Endurance Cutter homeported in Tampa Fla, and Kodiak Island, a 110-foot patrol boat, homeported in Key West, Fla, are currently deployed in the Caribbean under the tactical control of Coast Guard Sector San Juan, conducting counterdrug operations in support of JIATF-South, US law enforcement, and US Dominican Republic bilateral conventions and drug control policy. | | | | Reads : 714 | | | |
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