The P-3 Orion Helps the Feds Seize Over 77 Tons of Illegal Drugs

The Air and Marine Operations unit of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has worked with its federal and international partners to seize 121,667 pounds of cocaine and 33,226 pounds of marijuana in international waters.

Michael Wildes

Monday, September 12, 2022 at 06:10 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The Air and Marine Operations (AMO), a U.S. Customs and Border Protection unit, plays a crucial role in intercepting illegal drugs, seizing over $2.4 billion in narcotics, including cocaine, marijuana, and a significant increase in fentanyl, through the first three quarters of FY22.
AMO's success is attributed to its aviation and maritime expertise, utilizing specialized resources such as 240 aircraft (notably the Lockheed P-3 Orion for long-range surveillance and interdiction), hundreds of marine vessels, and 1,800 federal agents.
The P-3 Orion aircraft are essential for extended patrols along U.S. borders and in drug transit zones, often operating in tandem (Airborne Early Warning and Long-Range Tracker variants) from two National Air Security Operations Centers to detect and intercept targets.
Despite increasing operational successes and the critical nature of their work, CBP is actively recruiting pilots, known as Air Interdiction Agents, and is offering special salary rates to address significant hiring and recruitment challenges.

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The Air and Marine Operations (AMO),an operational unit of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, is helping keep illegal drugs off the streets. The AMO reported at the end of August that, through just three fiscal quarters of 2022, it worked with its federal and international partners to seize 121,667 pounds of cocaine and 33,226 pounds of marijuana in international waters. That’s an estimated $2.4 billion in illegal transactions the agency said it’s blocked.

The AMO’s efforts were successful in large part because of its aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, equipment, and intelligence. The unit has 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft, and hundreds of marine vessels that operate throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, making the AMO the largest aviation and maritime law enforcement agency.