Esquimalt warships depart to hunt down drug traffickers

Two Canadian combat vessels are leaving CFB Esquimalt Friday to hunt down drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean.

HMCS Whitehorse and HMCS Yellowknife, both Kingston-class coastal defence vessels, carry crews of approximately 40 sailors each.

The Royal Canadian Navy has committed personnel and equipment to Operation Caribbe, the joint Canada-U.S. drug-interdiction mission, since 2006.

The Whitehorse and Yellowknife are due back at Esquimalt by the end of April.

As of last June, the Canadian Navy had deployed ships and submarines to the international mission 63 times. 

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  HMCS Yellowknife leaves Esquimalt Harbour on Friday, March 15, 2019. (Maritime Forces Pacific)