MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- The Coast Guard Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team was awarded the United States Interdiction Coordinator Award at the bay View Restaurant, here, Aug. 19. Patrick Ward, acting deputy director for supply reduction and United States interdiction coordinator, presented the PACTACLET the award for their success in counter-drug operations in 2009.
“The U.S. Interdiction Coordinator Award was established to recognize superior performance of front-line narcotics interdictors in the ongoing battle against drug smugglers and the organizations that support them,” said Lt. j. g. Mark Byrne, officer in charge, law enforcement detachment 108, PACTACLET.
Award winners are recognized for their exceptional innovation, tactics, aggressiveness and results, said Byrne.
“It feels good,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Sparks, Maritime Enforcement, Law-Enforcement Detachment 106, PACTACLET. “I was here the last time they awarded it; it’s nice to see the continued recognition.”
During 2009, PACTACLET LEDET’s deployed on 15 U.S. and allied naval vessels and conducted 43 counter-drug boardings including seven self-propelled semi-submersible interdictions.
The law enforcement detachments removed 58,208 kilograms of cocaine during these deployments that was worth an estimated street value of over $1.8 billion, said Byrne. The LEDET case packages have resulted in the successful federal prosecution of 82 illicit traffickers.
“Currently, there are 32 LEDET personnel deployed on 2 Allied vessels and one U.S. Navy vessel patrolling the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of Operation Carib Shield and Operation Caper Focus,” said Byrne.
“The PACTACLET also has these other accomplishments,” said Byrne. “The Coast Guard Unit Commendation Award in July 2010, the qualification of four TACLET boarding officers in the past three months, and the qualification of 35 newly-arrived personnel as TACLET boarding team members.”