In 1999, "Curts" deployed to counter-narco-terrorism deployment under the direction of Joint Inter-agency Task Force East (now named Joint Interagency Task Force South). In addition to seizing approximately 5 metric tons of cocaine, "Curts" conducted rare bi-lateral counter-narcotics exercises with the Colombian Navy. After departing a short visit to Aruba "Curts" responded to a distress call from M/V "Olga", north of the Guajira Peninsula. "Curts" crew were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for joint rescue efforts that saved the lives of several "Olga" crew members. The half-way point of this deployment found "Curts" celebrating Halloween in Key West, Christmas in St. Thomas and New Years again in Key West, Florida. The timing of this deployment also caused "Curts" to be the last U.S. warship to transit the Panama Canal under U.S. control in 1999 (ex- was towed through just before "Curts" transit) and the first to transit it under Panamanian control in 2000.