Freedom Achieves Third Caribbean Drug Seizure: "The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) achieved its third drug seizure March 11, disrupting a high-speed 'go-fast' vessel and recovering 2 1/4 tons of cocaine during counter-illicit trafficking (CIT) operations in U.S. 4th Fleet's Area of Responsibility.
While patrolling with embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, the Litorral Combat Ship Surface Warfare Mission Package and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, Freedom detected a suspected drug vessel and began pursuit at high speed.
Freedom deployed a response team of Sailors and Coast Guardsmen to intercept the vessel, which jettisoned its illicit cargo in the southern Caribbean Sea.
An MH-60S Sea Hawk from Freedom forced the go-fast to beach itself. Local officials later confiscated the vessel."
