USS McClusky Supports Drug Interdiction, Helps Seize 4,800 Pounds of Cocaine

The USS McClusky and USS Nicholas recently helped seize more than 4,800 pounds of cocaine with a street value of more than $363 million, in the western Caribbean Sea. Both ships assisted Colombian authorities with the interdiction as part of an operation targeting drug trafficking routes in the region.

The city of Laguna Niguel adopted the USS McClusky, a Navy frigate, primarily used to patrol the South American coastline looking for drugs. Officially called an FFG-41 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, it was commissioned in 1983 and named after Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky, a WWII Lt. Commander involved in many battles including the Battle of Midway.

In this recent seize the Navy says U.S. customs officials initially detected the speedboat carrying the drugs. The Norfolk-based Nicholas then dispatched a helicopter to track the boat.

The Navy says the boat dumped half of its drugs into the water and turned around when the Nicholas was in position to approach it. A helicopter on the San Diego-based McClusky diverted the boat back to Colombian waters, where local authorities stopped it.

In addition to having a ship, the city of Laguna Niguel also has a fighting force, a Marine Battalion, the First Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton. 

The Military Support Committee was established in 2007 and is designed to sustain and enhance the adoptive relationship between the city of Laguna Niguel, the USS McClusky and the First Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment.

For more information about the Laguna Niguel Military Support Foundation, please visit Inmilitarysupport.org and see if there are opportunities for YOU to serve and support our city and our military.

Click here for the complete US Navy report on the incident.