Navy Pilot Flies Dolphins
17 November 2009
Four drug runners detained, four and a half tonnes of drugs seized, and one very upset drug lord; the result of a recent patrol by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) with RAN Officer LEUT Joel Cooper onboard.
LEUT Cooper is currently serving as a HH-65C Dolphin pilot on a loan posting to the .
Typically the day to day job involves flying search and rescue in the Los Angeles area, but recently LEUT Cooper deployed onboard Cutters Sherman and Jarvis for counter narcotics operations throughout Central America.
"As one of the pilots onboard I was responsible for patrolling ahead of the ship to locate drug running vessels," he said.
"The patrol culminated with the location of a Self Propelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) vessel carrying the four and a half tonnes of heroine and cocaine.
"The SPSS is the latest trafficking tool for the cartels.
"They are designed to cruise just below the waterline and are very difficult to detect.
"To date very few SPSSs have been caught and this seizure is one of the Coast Guard's largest drug busts," LEUT Cooper said.
A seizure of drugs worth hundreds of millions has a very significant impact on the drug cartels and is a fitting end to the patrol.
LEUT Cooper will serve with the until 2011 then return to the Fleet Air Arm at HMAS Albatross.
