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to end of pageFrom USS Crommelin Public Affairs
April 15, 2003, aboard USS CROMMELIN, At Sea (NNS) - One day in the early months of USS Crommelin's (FFG 37) deployment, Seaman John Holme was standing watch as forward lookout when he spotted the outline of a small craft on the horizon.
Initially, he couldn't identify it, but it looked suspicious, so he alerted the embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) personnel to it.
"After the LEDET confirmed that it was indeed a go-fast (a high speed vessel specifically built for transporting narcotics) possibly carrying drugs, I felt real proud, like I had accomplished something," said Holme.
After receiving Holme's report of his observation, Crommelin's commanding officer proceeded to investigate, vectoring the ship's embarked helicopter to investigate. As Crommelin approached the suspect vessel, it accelerated and altered course away from the warship.
What ensued was a high speed, long distance chase that lasted for many hours. As the chase continued, the go-fast crew began jettisoning their cargo in order to gain speed and outmaneuver Crommelin.
In order to maintain contact with the go-fast, USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) and its embarked helicopter joined in the chase.
The go-fast headed into the territorial waters of a nearby country where its crew beached their boat. National authorities subsequently apprehended them.
Crommelin returned to the position where their helo located contraband, but due to nightfall, the Sailors were unable to locate anything.
"We tried everything we could think of, but with the sea and the fact that the bales were black, it was like finding a needle in a haystack" said Lt.j.g. Matthew Price.
"It felt like we were blind men, but we continued to work throughout the night, as we knew we had a better chance of seeing something in daylight," said Operational Specialist 2nd Class Frank Moreno. "Basically, our mind set was to set the morning watch up for success."
At first light, crew members started to see black objects in the water that resembled the jettisoned contraband from the previous day. Crommelin's deck crew launched the small boats and Easy Rider to investigate. In a true team effort, the small boats started to recover bales as Easy Rider marked their locations with smoke markers. By the end of the day, Crommelin recovered 79 bales of cocaine worth an estimated street value of over $42 million.
Without initial detection and pursuit by Crommelin's crew members, 1.7 tons of pure cocaine could have made it to American shores. Crommelin is proud of this accomplishment and continues to work to deter those that look to transport this poison to the shores of America.
Crommelin and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 37, homeported in Honolulu, are returning home from a routine deployment to the Naval Forces Southern Command area of responsibility engaged in the monitoring and detection of counter drug activities.
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