USS Nicholas to return to Virginia

Published July 17, 2012 10:30pm ET



NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The USS Nicholas is returning to Virginia following a six-month deployment to the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The guided-missile frigate is scheduled to be back at Naval Station Norfolk on Thursday.

While deployed, the Nicholas helped stop suspected drug smugglers and confiscated more than $515 million worth of drugs. The Navy says the Nicholas also captured 14 suspected drug smugglers for prosecution in the United States.

The Nicholas was taking part in Operation Martillo, a multinational effort targeting drug trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus.