DrugsNews

US CBP Air and Marine Operations and Partners Seize Nearly Two Tons of Cocaine Worth Over $58 Million

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) National Air Security Operations Center (NASOC) P-3 crews partnered with federal authorities to disrupt a narcotics smuggling attempt in the Eastern Pacific Ocean leading to the seizure of 1.7 tons of cocaine in February, denying transnational criminal organizations more than $58 million in illicit proceeds.

On February 14, in a Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) led operation, a NASOC P-3 Long Range Tracker crew detected a suspicious vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The aircrew conducted a hand-off to a partner aircraft that vectored U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Munro (WMSL-755) for interdiction. A USCG team detained four people and seized 1.7 tons of cocaine.

This interdiction was conducted under Campaign Martillo, a counter-narcotics operation to disrupt transnational criminal organizations that threaten global security and prosperity. Campaign Martillo is supported by SOUTHCOM and led by JIATF-S.

AMO has two P-3 NASOCs, located in Jacksonville, Florida and Corpus Christi, Texas. These P-3 aircraft operate throughout North, Central and South America in defense of the borders of the United States and to prevent attempts to smuggle persons or contraband.