Dar es Salaam. A Canadian sailor whose ship was involved in seizing 132kgs of heroin off the Tanzanian coast in March has died in a Dar es Salaam hospital in unknown circumstances.
The sailor died while en route to Canada for scheduled leave, according local sources. The Canadian Armed Forces has confirmed the reports.
The Canadian Military Police are investigating the death with local authorities in Dar es Salaam.
The deceased crewman was on his way to Canada for scheduled leave when he was taken to hospital in Tanzania, where he died. He was based in British Columbia.
Police in Dar es Salaam could not be reached yesterday to give progress on investigations over the death.
His ship, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina, is sailing in the Indian Ocean and in March, the crew seized 132kgs of heroin as part of a counter-terrorism and anti-piracy operation.
The circumstances of the sailor’s death were still unknown, the Canadian military said in a statement.
Another Canadian sailor died in January aboard HMCS Toronto, which was serving under the same mission.
Lt Andrew Webster, 33, died in unclear circumstances in the Seychelles. At the time, Canadian forces only said foul play was not suspected in his death.
The deceased crewman’s family has asked him not to be identified.
The ship’s commanding officer said in a statement he would be “dearly missed” by all aboard.
“I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of our crewman,” Commander Daniel Charlebois said, ading:
“He was well-liked and respected by his peers.”
Regina flies the Canadian Naval Ensign and has been sailing on the Indian Ocean since February
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
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