WASHINGTON, MARCH 28, SPA -- AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND OTHER U.S. WARSHIPS WILL DEPLOY TO THE CARIBBEAN NEXT MONTH FOR JOINT EXERCISES THAT WILL FOCUS ON COMBATING DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND HUMAN SMUGGLING, THE U.S. MILITARY SAID MONDAY. A FOUR-SHIP U.S. NAVY GROUP WILL DEPLOY FROM THE EASTERN UNITED STATES TO THE CARIBBEAN FOR REGIONAL EXERCISES FROM EARLY APRIL TO LATE MAY, THE MIAMI-BASED SOUTHERN COMMAND SAID IN A STATEMENT. THE GROUP, INCLUDING 6,500 SAILORS, WILL OPERATE WITH FORCES FROM LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES AND WILL FOCUS 'ON UNCONVENTIONAL THREATS SUCH AS NARCO-TERRORISM AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING,' THE COMMAND SAID. TROOPS FROM THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, AND THE CARIBBEAN ALSO WILL PARTICIPATE IN A SEPARATE EXERCISE IN JAMAICA TO TRAIN FOR POSSIBLE THREATS DURING THE 2007 CRICKET WORLD CUP. THE U.S. MARINE CORPS ANNOUNCED EARLIER THAT U.S. AND BRITISH FORCES, AS WELL AS MORE THAN 1,000 CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM 16 CARIBBEAN NATIONS, WOULD TAKE PART IN THE MARCH 25-APRIL 7 EXERCISE IN JAMAICA. THE TRAINING FOCUSES ON 'COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS, CROWD AND RIOT CONTROL, AND MASS CASUALTY EVACUATION IN PREPARATION FOR THE 2007 WORLD CUP OF CRICKET,' THE MARINES SAID IN A STATEMENT. --SPA 12 52 LOCAL TIME 09 52 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/349085