{"id":22014,"date":"2019-02-07T22:03:39","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T22:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:21:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:21:10","slug":"admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/","title":{"rendered":"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A littoral combat ship is slated to deploy to the waters of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southcom.mil\/\" target=_blank>U.S. Southern Command<\/a> this year to battle drug smugglers, its top officer told lawmakers Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SOUTHCOM commander <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southcom.mil\/About\/Leadership\/Bio-Article-View\/Article\/992093\/adm-craig-s-faller\/\" target=_blank>Adm. Craig Faller<\/a> declared America\u2019s opioid epidemic \u201ca national security crisis\u201d during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services committee and said an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/ah_online\/lcs\/index.html\" target=_blank>LCS<\/a> will patrol South American and Caribbean waters to interdict illicit narcotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While 2017 and 2018 were record years for drug seizures in his command, Faller said much work remains to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The admiral did not identify which LCS would undertake the mission but indicated it also could be available for exercises and other duties alongside partner nations in SOUTHCOM\u2019s area of responsibility, a vast command that sprawls across 31 countries and 16 dependencies and represents about one-sixth of the world\u2019s landmass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faller praised the Coast Guard\u2019s counter-narcotics efforts in South America and the Caribbean, but said he needs more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to take a bigger bite out of crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 110 men and women of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil\/Area-Cutters\/CGCFORWARD\/\" target=_blank>Coast Guard cutter Forward<\/a> deployed over Christmas and then spent part of their patrol without pay and contractor-provided parts due to the government shutdown, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But they still seized 17 tons of cocaine, Faller told the lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/02\/05\/coast-guard-seizes-35000-pounds-of-cocaine-in-pacific\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5080729.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Coast Guard seizes 17 tons of cocaine during  Pacific patrol<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The drugs were off-loaded Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several senators questioned Faller about Venezuela, where the United States and other countries have recognized opposition leader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/02\/07\/americas\/juan-guaido-profile-venezuela-kiley-intl\/index.html\" target=_blank>Juan Guaido<\/a> as the the South American nation\u2019s\u2019 leader in an effort to oust strongman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/02\/07\/venezuela-china-and-russia-owed-debts-as-presidential-fight-rages.html\" target=_blank>Nicolas Maduro<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked about the prospects of regime change in the troubled country or a military coup in Caracas, Faller said many rank-and-file troops are starving alongside their countrymen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Faller also said Maduro has 2,000 generals \u2014 more than all of NATO combined \u2014 and he uses drug trafficking money and other illicit funds to keep their loyalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faller accused Maduro\u2019s inner security ring \u2014 Venezuela\u2019s version of the Secret Service \u2014 of teeming with Cuban intelligence officers and other Havana operatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cuba \u201cpretty much owns the security around Maduro and is deeply entrenched in the intelligence service,\u201d the admiral said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some senators groused that SOUTHCOM and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.africom.mil\/about-the-command\/leadership\/commander\" target=_blank>U.S. Africa Command<\/a> suffer from a shortage of resources, even as they stand on the front lines in a global battle to counter rising Russian and Chinese influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faller said his staff is assessing reports of \u201cRussian security forces being flown in\u201d to Venezuela, and said the Chinese are involved in cyber operations there \u201cthat are absolutely not helpful to a democratic outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">International support for Maduro largely has divided between leaders in the developed world who want him gone and governments in Moscow and Beijing propping him up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite Russian and Cuban influence in the Maduro regime, Faller said SOUTHCOM is \u201cprepared to protect U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities\u201d in the teetering country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking across the long horizon of the future, Faller warned lawmakers that South America is now peppered with Chinese investments in 56 ports and a flood of cash and other incentives could help buy their loyalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey are there, and they are there in force,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have a long-term vision, economically and militarily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. agencies, not just the military, must work to strengthen partnerships with these countries and reinforce why allying with the United States is in their best interests, Faller said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Faller also alluded to the presence of Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia with close ties to Iran, operating in South America, but did not provide details during the public hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/02\/03\/venezuelas-guaido-urges-military-defections-amid-protests\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Venezuela7.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Venezuela\u2019s Guaido urges military defections amid protests<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Venezuela\u2019s opposition leader called on members of the military to abandon the country\u2019s socialist government, while President Nicolas Maduro proposed holding early National Assembly elections to potentially oust his challenger.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The head of U.S. Africa Command, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.africom.mil\/about-the-command\/leadership\/commander\" target=_blank>Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser<\/a>, spoke of the creeping Chinese influence there, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beijing\u2019s military has erected its first overseas base in Djibouti, a Horn of Africa nation that also hosts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnic.navy.mil\/regions\/cnreurafswa\/installations\/camp_lemonnier_djibouti.html\" target=_blank>Camp Lemonnier<\/a>, home to the largest collection of American forces on the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have a Chinese base roughly several miles from the front gate of our location in Djibouti,\u201d Waldhauser said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Echoing Faller, Waldhauser told senators that he could use more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to monitor terrorist organizations, even as his command continues to sway African nations from decisively swinging to Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTrying to make sure our influence remains,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult task.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The LCS will pick up a mission held by Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates until 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":44329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":69,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,12,25,69],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3365],"class_list":["post-22014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-marine-corps"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"2OAMKQTVYZBELEUJYRTVA7M5WM","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers - Marine Corps Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The LCS will pick up a mission held by Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates until 2015.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The LCS will pick up a mission held by Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates until 2015.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Marine Corps Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-02-07T22:03:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T19:21:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Geoff Ziezulewicz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Geoff Ziezulewicz\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2019-02-07T22:03:39+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T19:21:10+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 701,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Your Marine Corps\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers - Marine Corps Times\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2019-02-07T22:03:39+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T19:21:10+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"The LCS will pick up a mission held by Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates until 2015.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/2019\\\/02\\\/07\\\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"News\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"news\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Your Marine Corps\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/news\\\/your-marine-corps\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"your-marine-corps\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 4,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Marine Corps Times\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Marine Corps - Independent News For Marines | Marine Corps Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Marine Corps Times\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/marine-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/marine-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Marine Corps Times\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/marinecorpstimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers - Marine Corps Times","description":"The LCS will pick up a mission held by Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates until 2015.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers","og_description":"The LCS will pick up a mission held by Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates until 2015.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/","og_site_name":"Marine Corps Times","article_published_time":"2019-02-07T22:03:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T19:21:10+00:00","author":"Geoff Ziezulewicz","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Geoff Ziezulewicz","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers","datePublished":"2019-02-07T22:03:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T19:21:10+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/"},"wordCount":701,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg","articleSection":["Daily News Roundup","News","Newsletters","Your Marine Corps"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/","name":"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers - Marine Corps Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg","datePublished":"2019-02-07T22:03:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T19:21:10+00:00","description":"The LCS will pick up a mission held by Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates until 2015.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/07\/admiral-lcs-will-hunt-drug-smugglers\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/","ad_zone":"news"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Your Marine Corps","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/","ad_zone":"your-marine-corps"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Admiral: LCS will hunt drug smugglers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/","name":"Marine Corps Times","description":"Marine Corps - Independent News For Marines | Marine Corps Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#organization","name":"Marine Corps Times","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/marine-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/marine-logo-white.png","caption":"Marine Corps Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Marine Corps Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LCS.JPG_eec8aa.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22014"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93876,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014\/revisions\/93876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22014"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=22014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}