Budget Cuts Force Navy Out of Anti-Drug Operation

Because of sequestration budget cuts, Navy frigates will stop conducting drug patrols in the Caribbean and along the South American coastline, ending their participation in a joint operation that stopped 160 tons of cocaine from reaching U.S. streets last year.

The Navy confirmed Tuesday that it is suspending the upcoming deployments of two ships to the region, the Norfolk-based Kauffman and the San Diego-based Rentz.

They were scheduled to replace two San Diego-based frigates that will return home in the coming weeks -- one of them early because of the cuts.

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