By Stephanie Fox, Navy Office of Community Outreach

INDIAN OCEAN – Seaman Recruit Esmeralda Ramosvargas, a native of Perris, California, is currently serving aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer, USS Winston S. Churchill, in the Indian Ocean.

According to a recent Navy news release, “The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill seized illicit shipments of weapons and weapons components from two stateless dhows during a maritime security operation in international waters off the coast of Somalia, Feb. 11-12. The cache of weapons consisted of thousands of AK-47 assault rifles, light machine guns, heavy sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and crew-served weapons. Other weapon components included barrels, stocks, optical scopes, and weapon systems.”

“It was an amazing experience having been part of something so big,” said Ramosvargas. “I hope to continue doing great things here in the Navy.”

The seizure of illicit weapons was conducted as part of the U.S. Navy’s regular maritime security operations in the region. These routine patrols are performed to ensure the free flow of commerce for legitimate traffic and to disrupt the transport of illicit cargo that often funds terrorism and unlawful activity.

With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor. Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States are directly linked to a strong and ready Navy