see also: in June 2006 News Releases:   CBP Border Patrol Seize Over 1.1 Million Pounds of Narcotics Through the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year   Full Enforcement for Wood Packaging Material Import Regulations to Begin July 5   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at El Paso Port of Entry Nab Man Wanted on Homicide Warrant   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize Narcotics in Boat   CBP Border Patrol Nets Over $600,000 Thousand During Cocaine Seizure   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Discover Seven Pounds of Heroin Hidden Baseball Bats   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Nine People From Tractor Trailer ...more on cbp.gov:   Press Officers   CBP News Releases

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Washington, D.C. - In its continuing effort to secure America’s borders, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announces the signing of a lease for the Great Falls, Montana, Air Branch. The hangar and office space at the Great Falls International Airport in Great Falls, Montana, will house up to five aircraft and more than 30 employees.

“The expansion of operations in Montana is another significant step forward toward a deliberate and strategic expansion of CBP border security operations along the northern border,” said Michael Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner for CBP Air and Marine. “The lease of this facility serves as the cornerstone toward building a fully equipped and operational Air Branch that will strengthen operational control of the northern border.”

The third of five planned Air Branches on the Northern Border, joining Bellingham, Washington, and Plattsburgh, New York, the facility is expected to have two citations and two Black Hawk helicopters.

An advance team consisting of nine employees will begin working this summer to set up the Air Branch and some operations may begin as early as September.

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.