A Coast Guard Cutter Valiant crew member embraces his child Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, as he returns home to Naval Station Mayport, Florida. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Valiant returned home Wednesday to Naval Station Mayport following a six-week counter-drug patrol in the Caribbean Sea.
Coast Guard Cutter Valiant crew patrolled over 7,000 nautical miles in the Caribbean in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S).
During their patrol, the crew worked closely with partner nations such as the Netherlands. After careful preparation and coordination, Valiant joined forces with the HNLMS Friesland, a Royal Netherlands Navy offshore patrol vessel, and the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon to ensure the safe and expeditious transfer of four suspected drug smugglers to U.S. law enforcement officials. The Valiant crew also contributed to an interagency operation, which will support the dismantling of a transnational criminal organization.
A crew from Jacksonville’s Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) joined the Valiant crew during their counter drug-patrol. HITRON is America’s first airborne law enforcement unit trained and authorized to employ airborne use of force and intercept vessels suspected of transporting illicit narcotics into the United States.
“We had a very successful patrol this summer, ensuring the Caribbean remained a challenging and unwelcome place for drug smugglers to operate, combatting transnational organized crime networks, and keeping drugs off U.S. streets,” said Cmdr. Matthew Waldron, the Valiant’s commanding officer. “My first patrol as commanding officer of Valiant, I couldn’t be more proud of this crew. As always, we are excited and ready to return to our families and friends back in our homeport of Mayport.”
The Valiant is a multi-mission 210-foot Medium-Endurance Cutter. Missions include search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, homeland security, and national defense operations.
