see also: in August 2008:   CBP in New York Apprehends Suspected Interpol Fugitive   Louisville CBP Finds Heroin in Woman’s Suit   CBP Officers Nab More than $1 Million in Narcotics in 48-hour Period   Philadelphia CBP Seizes $650,000 in Fake Bank Checks   CBP on a Roll Seizing Fake Handbags, Footwear Again in California   Calexico Downtown Port Officers Intercept $100K Narcotic Smuggling Attempt   CBP Outbound Inspection Yields 293 Unreported Ostrich Skins ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Air and Marine will open its fifth facility along the country’s northern border Friday, August 8 at Selfridge, Mich., just north of Detroit.

The Great Lakes Air and Marine Branch adds another layer to Canadian-Great Lakes border region security by complementing CBP enforcement strategies and will play a vital role in homeland security efforts to dismantle human and narcotics smuggling networks. The Great Lakes branch is the last of five CBP facilities slated to open along the northern border as mandated by Congress.

The dedication ceremony will include a display of aircraft to be stationed in Michigan. Featured speakers include U.S. Senator Carl Levin, U.S. Rep. Candice Miller and CBP Air and Marine Assistant Commissioner Michael C. Kostelnik.

Media are invited to attend the presentation, which is scheduled for:
When: 11 a.m. (EDT), Friday, August 8, 2008
Where: Great Lakes Air and Marine Branch, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Selfridge, Mich.
General Info: (202) 359-2641

Limited media fly-alongs will be offered. Please call for scheduling

Note: Any member of the media attending this event must have press credentials and any vehicle entering Selfridge Air National Guard Base must have a current vehicle registration. All media will be escorted from the base main gate to the branch’s facility.

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.