The Air and Marine Operations (AMO) unit of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intercepted a shipment of cocaine valued at over $40,000.00. The seizure occurred on March 2 when a patrol aircraft from the Houston Air and Marine Branch, in collaboration with multiple partners, identified a suspicious vessel during a narcotics smuggling surveillance operation.
According to the CBP's news release, their maritime patrol aircraft was operating in conjunction with the Joint Interagency Task Force-South and international partners when they detected the suspicious vessel. One of the international partners halted the vessel, leading to the arrest of five individuals and the confiscation of 3,081 pounds of cocaine.
Todd C. Rowell, director of air and maritime operations at the Houston Air and Marine Branch, emphasized the importance of these partnerships in combating drug trafficking. "Our partnerships in the Southeast Region are crucial to stopping the illicit flow of narcotics before they reach U.S. borders. Our aircrews will continue to be part of the enduring team effort to disrupt and stop maritime smuggling," Rowell said in the CBP news release.
The AMO is an extensive organization consisting of 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 300 marine vessels, and 240 aircraft. Its jurisdiction extends to operations within U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and mainland United States. The AMO's primary responsibilities include intercepting illegal people and cargo, investigating criminal networks, as well as responding to contingencies and national taskings according to information provided on its website.
The origins of AMO can be traced back to 1922 when U.S. Customs Service Patrol began utilizing aircraft for surveillance and enforcement purposes. However, it wasn't until 1969 that Congress officially established a program through authorizing the Customs Aviation Program. In 1985, the Customs Service assumed ownership of a P-3 aircraft previously loaned by the U.S. Navy since 1984. The AMO was consolidated into a single unit in 1999, and in 2015, the Office of Air and Marine was renamed as AMO.
In the fiscal year of 2023, AMO's efforts resulted in over 1,000 arrests and seizures of substantial amounts of illegal substances and contraband. This included 256,883 pounds of cocaine, 2,049 pounds of fentanyl, 4,050 pounds of methamphetamine, $15.3 million in cash, and 2,200 weapons according to the CBP release regarding the seizure of 1.5 tons of cocaine.
