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Sea King helps nab grow operations
Lt Marguerite Dodds-Lepinski
Navy Public Affairs
September 4, 2007
Photo courtesy of the RCMP
Three Sea King helicopters from 443
Maritime Helicopter Squadron joined
an integrated team of law enforcement
officers to help them locate and destroy
marijuana plantations on Vancouver Island.
443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron lived up to their motto “Our Sting is Death” as they supported the RCMP in seizing tens of thousands of marijuana plants in August.
Three Sea King helicopters joined a team of law enforcement officers from the RCMP, and Saanich and Victoria police departments who were working to locate and destroy marijuana plantations on Vancouver Island.
The Canadian Forces participation in the annual RCMP marijuana-eradication program — called Operation SABOT within the military — involves the provision of CF helicopters as observation platforms and transportation for RCMP teams hunting for grow sites.
“Sea Kings are used to flying into complex areas and difficult terrain,” said Commander Roderick Hughes, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operational Readiness, Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters. “Our air personnel are very well trained and the aircraft can carry police personnel working to find and destroy narcotics.” The operation is one example of cooperation between the CF and other government departments to maximize their unique expertise and equipment.
Capable of flying day or night, the Sea King is a versatile surveillance aircraft. While its main mission is to fly from ships to conduct surface surveillance and anti-submarine warfare, the Sea King also contributes to search and rescue operations, disaster relief, counter-narcotic operations, and fisheries and pollution patrols.
“There may be other commercial aircraft out there with the same capacity as the Sea King, but it is highly unlikely that the personnel are trained to the same extent and specializations of CF personnel,” says Cdr Hughes. “The CF has certain inherent capabilities because of the nature of our work that allows us to participate in operations like Operation Sabot. In short, we can supply a larger, capable aircraft with a highly trained crew.”
CF support to counter-drug operations such as Operation Sabot have historically been highly successful. To date, this year’s Operation Sabot exceeded last year’s total with more than 16,500 plants seized.
“Few Canadian families have not been affected by drugs,” said Cdr Hughes. “The whole thing around the drug operation is the eradication of cash crops that fuel organized crime.”
Operation Sabot has added value to the CF in that it is an “excellent training opportunity for CF aircrew,” says Cdr Hughes. But CF personnel are not the only ones to receive valuable training. The integrated team of law enforcement officers spent a day at 19 Wing Comox where they went through training specific to the Sea King.
“Any time the CF partners with a law enforcement agency, the relationship is sure to benefit future domestic operations,” says Cdr Hughes.
Lt Marguerite Dodds-Lepinski
Navy Public Affairs
September 4, 2007
Photo courtesy of the RCMP
Three Sea King helicopters from 443
Maritime Helicopter Squadron joined
an integrated team of law enforcement
officers to help them locate and destroy
marijuana plantations on Vancouver Island.
443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron lived up to their motto “Our Sting is Death” as they supported the RCMP in seizing tens of thousands of marijuana plants in August.
Three Sea King helicopters joined a team of law enforcement officers from the RCMP, and Saanich and Victoria police departments who were working to locate and destroy marijuana plantations on Vancouver Island.
The Canadian Forces participation in the annual RCMP marijuana-eradication program — called Operation SABOT within the military — involves the provision of CF helicopters as observation platforms and transportation for RCMP teams hunting for grow sites.
“Sea Kings are used to flying into complex areas and difficult terrain,” said Commander Roderick Hughes, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operational Readiness, Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters. “Our air personnel are very well trained and the aircraft can carry police personnel working to find and destroy narcotics.” The operation is one example of cooperation between the CF and other government departments to maximize their unique expertise and equipment.
Capable of flying day or night, the Sea King is a versatile surveillance aircraft. While its main mission is to fly from ships to conduct surface surveillance and anti-submarine warfare, the Sea King also contributes to search and rescue operations, disaster relief, counter-narcotic operations, and fisheries and pollution patrols.
“There may be other commercial aircraft out there with the same capacity as the Sea King, but it is highly unlikely that the personnel are trained to the same extent and specializations of CF personnel,” says Cdr Hughes. “The CF has certain inherent capabilities because of the nature of our work that allows us to participate in operations like Operation Sabot. In short, we can supply a larger, capable aircraft with a highly trained crew.”
CF support to counter-drug operations such as Operation Sabot have historically been highly successful. To date, this year’s Operation Sabot exceeded last year’s total with more than 16,500 plants seized.
“Few Canadian families have not been affected by drugs,” said Cdr Hughes. “The whole thing around the drug operation is the eradication of cash crops that fuel organized crime.”
Operation Sabot has added value to the CF in that it is an “excellent training opportunity for CF aircrew,” says Cdr Hughes. But CF personnel are not the only ones to receive valuable training. The integrated team of law enforcement officers spent a day at 19 Wing Comox where they went through training specific to the Sea King.
“Any time the CF partners with a law enforcement agency, the relationship is sure to benefit future domestic operations,” says Cdr Hughes.
