NCJ Number
124932
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 17 Issue: 7 Dated: (July/August 1990) Pages: 28,30,32
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
U.S. Customs Service is hoping to use aeronautics to stop the influx of illicit drugs into the U.S. The U.S. Customs Drug Interdiction forces based in Corpus Christi, Texas, are flying Lockheed spy planes in order to ground the shuttle aircraft flown by the mercenary pilots employed by the drug cartels in Peru, Colombia, and Mexico.
Abstract
The program was initiated in response to the shift of drug smugglers to Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. The 66 pilots of the interdiction group use P-3 Airborne Early Warning System planes equipped with radar that can spot targets within a range of 250 miles. The P-3's role is to detect and monitor suspects and to coordinate Department of Defense assets. The procedures for tracking suspects include identifying, sorting to confirm suspicion, air tracking, and contacting the nearest aviation unit capable of shadowing the plane until it gets in range of a Black Hawk helicopter. The success of the Customs air crews is indicated by the reduction in the amount of drug-hauling air traffic.