see also: in October 2007 News Releases:   Cocaine Smuggler Tries To Trick El Paso CBP Officers by Hiding Drugs in Car Body   Border Patrol Agents in Texas Seize Marijuana Worth $1 Million Hidden Under Watermelons   Fingerprint Check Allows Border Patrol to Arrest Murder Suspect   Border Patrol Texas Task Force Seizes 500 Pounds of Marijuana   CBP Officers at Mail Facility Find Marijuana in Cement Statues, Opium   Tecate, Calif. Cargo Processing Port to Resume Operations Wednesday Morning   CBP at Newark Airport Discovers Man with Fraudulent Documents, False Claim to U.S. Citizenship ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Washington D.C. – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol announced the introduction of the FN-303, the newest less lethal tool available for Border Patrol Agents to use to protect themselves and the public against growing violence on the border.

The FN-303 is a less lethal device that provides the Border Patrol with enhanced capabilities to address violent situations along our nation’s borders. It uses compressed air to launch a plastic projectile containing OC powder (pepper spray) or paint (marking agent). The projectiles burst on impact releasing the OC powder or paint.

“As the United States Border Patrol increases the level of resources and continues to expand control of the borders, criminal organizations and criminals that operate along our nation’s borders with Mexico and Canada are aggressively and increasingly reluctant to abandon portions of the border where, in some cases, they have operated with impunity in the past,” stated Chief David V. Aguilar, U.S. Border Patrol National Chief. “This ‘entrenchment mentality’ along with a willingness to engage our officers has resulted in an escalation in violence and assaults against Border Patrol Agents. Our agents are trained, equipped, and prepared to take appropriate actions when confronted with assaultive actions. Split second decisions must be made by our officers in responding to threats and the means by which to engage the threats that they face in protecting our nation’s borders.”

“The FN 303 is a less lethal device that equips the agent with an added option to address a confrontation and potentially diffuse it at a lower level of lethality than through the use of his or her firearm. The decision to use any of the several weapons that an agent may be equipped with and available to the agent facing an assault is up to the individual agent and his or her perception of the danger or physical harm that he or she faces,” advised Chief David V. Aguilar.

The FN-303 will initially be deployed in the Tucson, El Centro, Yuma and San Diego Sectors, where agents have experienced the greatest increase in assaults by criminal aliens, border bandits and drug smugglers, before being deployed nationwide at a later date.

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 the 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.