The crews of HMCS Edmonton and HMCS Saskatoon returned home to family and friends at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on Friday, following 21/2 months fighting the international drug trade.
The two ships worked with the United States Coast Guard to seize 3,935 kilograms of cocaine as part of Operation Caribbe — Canada’s contribution to a multinational anti-crime campaign known as Operation Martillo.
“It was a very successful deployment for both Saskatoon and Edmonton,” said Lt.-Cmdr. Lucas Kenward, HMCS Edmonton’s commanding officer, as he greeted wife Andrea Callaghan and daughters Quinn, 5, and Brielle, 2. He said the drugs seized by his ship alone were worth about $56.5 million.
“So that’s $56.5 million that’s no longer operating in the underground economy in a lot of Central American countries,” Kenward said. “I think it’s a big win, not just for the ship, the crew and the navy, but also for Canada.”
He said the deployment in the eastern Pacific Ocean was a team effort.
“When we patrol the area, we are helped by maritime-patrol aircraft who find these vessels of interest for us, and then we launch our small boats.”
The vessels of interest are then intercepted and inspected, he said.
“Generally speaking, the people we’re intercepting are sort of the middle men, so they’re just transporting the contraband from Central and South America to Mexico or to Guatemala,” Kenward said. “They’re not aggressive, they generally surrender [right away].”
Operation Caribbe does important work, he said.
“The government of Canada is very interested in stability in Latin America, and Canada participating in this mission does help a lot of Latin American countries with controlling their own crime rates,” he said.
“And for a global-engagement piece for the government of Canada, this mission is a success because it allows us to work with our allies — not just the United States Coast Guard and other allies, but with Guatemala, Mexico and many other Central American countries.”
Kenward said he feels Canada is helping to make a dent in dealing with crime in the area, even though the amount of contraband being removed “is probably very small in the grand scheme of things.”
Callaghan said that having Kenward home means a family celebration.
“We like to make a big deal of it,” she said. “We plan a party at home and we have a cake and balloons.”
The ship’s traditional first kiss for a returning sailor went to Ordinary Seaman Justin Swance and wife Brie Sanford, after Swance’s name was chosen in a draw.
He said he immediately noticed some changes in 18-month-old son Greyson.
“He’s put on quite a bit of weight. He’s a big old guy now.”
Swance said there’s nothing like returning to loved ones.
“It feels great to get these hugs,” he said. “It’s been a while.”
