SOUTHCOM’s JTF Southern Spear squeezes illicit financing with spate of maritime interdictions

MIAMI, Fla. — Six months after its launch under U.S. Southern Command, Joint Task Force Southern Spear has intensified efforts to curb illicit maritime activity across the Western Hemisphere, with a focus on complex interdiction operations at sea.

Working with interagency partners, the task force has intercepted and seized six vessels illegally transporting sanctioned oil within the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility, disrupting revenue to transnational criminal organizations, designated terrorist organizations, and malign state actors.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear continues to conduct decisive operations to detect, disrupt, and dismantle narco-terrorist networks. In support of the President’s directives, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Response Team, accompanied by U.S. Marine Corps Special Purpose Forces, continue to support maritime interdiction operations to target the dark fleet that is enabling U.S. adversaries across the globe,” said Gen. Francis L. Donovan, U.S. SOUTHCOM commander.

Each interdiction is underpinned by the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Special Purpose Force and the Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Response Team leading boardings and vessel clearances.

To date, the 22d MEU has supported five interdictions of sanctioned vessels Skipper, Centuries, Sophia, Olina, and Veronica, part of a campaign to constrict critical financial nodes tied to criminal entities and designated terrorist organizations.