see also: in February 2007 News Releases:   Border Officers Respond To Medical Emergency   Federal Authorities Seize Narcotics Valued at More Than $15 Million in Caribbean   Spring Breakers: Get Your Passports Now   CBP Seizes 403 Pounds of Undeclared Cheese, Two Vehicles at Colombia-Solidarity Bridge   U.S.-Canada Trusted Air Traveler Program Expands   CBP Border Patrol Agents Rescue 56 Aliens from Truck   ACE Mandated for E-manifest Filing at Border Ports in Michigan and New York ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP Air and Marine   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Corpus Christi, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s air support operations in Corpus Christi, Texas were recognized today for innovation and aggressiveness in supporting the CBP border security mission. The CBP P-3 Operations Center deploys long-range radar-equipped planes that patrol the eastern Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean.

These high-tech planes track movement of aircraft and vessels and this capability has led to an award for superior performance in fixed-wing aviation support from the Office of the U.S. Interdiction Coordinator awards committee. Specifically this award was for the 2005 seizure of more than 84,330 pounds, or 42 tons, of illegal drugs with an estimated street value of over $3 billion.

A separate recognition, the Golden Eagle Award, was presented to a specific aircrew from the facility after an operation on August 14, 2005 resulted in the seizure of 2.8 metric tons of cocaine with a street value of just under $220 million.

“Protecting this nation from the devastation of dangerous drugs has always been one of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's top priorities,” said CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham. “To have the work of CBP Air and Marine recognized is a great credit to the men and women who are part of this mission, and an affirmation of the effectiveness and professionalism that they exhibit every day.”

CBP P-3 aircraft aircrews from Corpus Christi flew over 5,130 hours on counter-drug operations during 2005, often sight unseen, providing constant aerial surveillance and coordinating reports to marine assets on the water, which are critical to the tracking, interdiction and confiscation of illegal drugs, drug traffickers and their assets. During the same period of time the P-3 Operation Center in Corpus Christi flew over 90 recovery missions during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“The P-3 air wing and the center at Corpus Christi are the tip of the spear of the U.S. government's effort to disrupt and seize cocaine from South America,” said James O'Gara, U.S. interdiction coordinator, Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Each of the 10 aircraft based here in Corpus is responsible for seizing the equivalent of 40 million doses of cocaine per year, a phenomenal record and one of which the men and women of CBP can be proud.”

“The CBP Office of Air and Marine’s P-3 air wing brings considerable resources that significantly enhance security operations at and beyond the border region,” said Tony Crowder, CBP Office of Air and Marine national security and P-3 operations director. “The skills and abilities of the Air Wing’s personnel make this technological prowess complete. Perhaps the most important ‘sensor’ in the aircraft is our people’s sixth-sense in finding, tracking and interdicting those who would do harm to our nation.”

CBP Air and Marine is the largest law enforcement air force in the world. Its mission is to protect the American people and critical infrastructure by using an integrated and coordinated air and marine force to detect, interdict and prevent acts of terrorism arising from unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and other contraband moving toward or crossing the borders of the United States.

“The CBP P-3 Orion is a formidable tool within the arsenal of the Office of Air and Marine,” said Kenneth Knight, director of air operations for the P-3 operations center in Corpus Christi. “What makes the P-3 operation centers so successful is that the people doing the mission, from the support teams to the aircrews, are diligent in tracking down bad people wanting to do bad things to our citizens and to our country. They are the Jack Bauers [“24” character] of CBP Air and Marine.”

For information about CBP Air and Marine and the P-3 Air Wing. ( CBP Air and Marine )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.