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

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations (AMO) demonstrated significant success in FY22, seizing over $2.4 billion worth of narcotics, including cocaine, marijuana, and a notable increase in fentanyl, through federal and international partnerships.
AMO's interdiction efforts are heavily supported by its specialized Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft, which perform long-range aerial patrols and surveillance, utilizing advanced capabilities and specialized crews of "interdiction agents" (pilots) to detect and track illicit activity.
As the largest aviation and maritime law enforcement agency, AMO leverages extensive resources including 1,800 agents, 240 aircraft, and hundreds of vessels, and is actively recruiting qualified pilots to address staffing challenges and maintain its crucial border security operations.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.