The US Embassy, through its Military Liaison Office, conducted training with the St Vincent Coast Guard on vessel boarding as well as search-and-seizure techniques in St Vincent and the Grenadines from July 17-21.
US Marine Forces South and the St. Vincent Coast Guard joined forces to stage the professional exchange, which shared strategies and policies to monitor and control illicit trafficking.
The goal was to have forces readily available to deploy and conduct proper search-and-seizure operations, as well as gather and maintain evidence leading to trafficking prosecutions.
Subjects covered during the exchange included proper search-and-seizure procedures; suspect detention; locating, handling, and transferring evidence to local authorities; crime scene investigating and incident response.
The training was intended to enhance military skills and interoperability between the United States and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
