NAVSO Efforts Against Drugs Recognized

Dir. John P. Walters presented the award to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr., in recognition of the joint-effort to stem the flow of illegal narcotics from South America.

''The brave men and women who are working to stem the flow of drugs to the United States deserve our thanks and gratitude,'' said Walters. ''Their work is making American communities safer and protecting our citizens from the misery of drug crime, violence and addiction. They are proving everyday that when we push back against the international drug problem, it gets smaller.''

Accepting the award for NAVSO, Stevenson said, ''We are honored to receive this award on behalf of all the men and women who have participated in our on-going counter-narcotics operations. It is truly a team effort with ships at sea, deployed air detachments, the U.S. Coast Guard, a variety of other forces and agencies, as well as with our partner nations in Latin America.''

Recognized during the ceremony for their contributions to the effort were Commodores or representatives from Destroyer Squadron Fourteen, Destroyer Squadron Four Zero, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven, Carrier Air Wing Reserve Twenty, and Sea Control Wing Atlantic.

In 2005, the units supporting NAVSO in the counter-drug effort disrupted over 99 metric tons of cocaine and through October 2006 an additional 106 metric tons. U.S. Navy aircraft flew 2,250 hours in support of the counter-narcotics mission through the end of September 2006.

For more information on the Office of National Drug Control Policy, go to http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/index.html.