U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell returns to homeport

KITTERY, Maine– The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell returned to its homeport in Kittery, Maine, June 15, 2011 following a successful 60-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea working for the Joint Interagency Task Force - South based in Key West, Fla., as well as the Miami - based 7th Coast Guard District.

During the patrol, Campbell’s crew interdicted approximately one ton of cocaine smuggled on a fishing vessel, at a street value of more than $20 million. Campbell’s crew also led combined exercises with the Nicaraguan Navy, the Panamanian maritime service (Panama National Aeronaval Service), and the embassy teams. Additionally, Campbell hosted Colombian Navy Adm. Narvaez, commander of the Colombian Caribbean Naval Forces, and his staff for dinner aboard Campbell during a Caribbean port call.

Campbell’s crew also completed the Helicopter Standardization Inspection and embarked an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and aircrew from the Helicopter Tactical Interdiction Squadron based out of Jacksonville, Fla.

The cutter Campbell is a 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter homeported in Kittery at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

For more information about this release contact 1^st Coast Guard District Public Affairs at (617) 223-8515.

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