see also: in February 2008:   Marijuana Seized by CBP Officers at San Luis, Ariz. Port   Border Patrol in Tucson Seizes 4 Tons of Marijuana   CBP Officers in Philadelphia Discover Venomous 8-Legged Stowaway   Arizona Event to Assist Border Patrol Applicants   Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Announce International Initiative Against Traffickers in Counterfeit Network Hardware   Border Patrol Apprehends 62 Illegal Migrants Hiding in Arizona House   CBP Officers in Calif. Find Smuggled Women in Truck Engine Compartment ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Laredo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Branch in Laredo participated in the 10th annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association Stars and Stripes Air Show last week. The CBP armed forces aviation branch enjoyed showcasing its “tools of the trade” with the public.

The Laredo Air Branch has been participating in the air show since its beginning in 1998 and this year’s 10th annual show held February 17 was no exception. Approximately 30,000 fans, including thousands of children and young adults, turned out for this well attended event.

Laredo Air Branch presented a static display which included CBP Air and Marine’s newest helicopter, the Eurocopter EC 120. This helicopter is well suited to Laredo Air Branch’s mission of supporting the CBP Border Patrol. In addition to the static display, Laredo Air Branch hosted a UH-1 “Huey” helicopter crew from El Paso Air Branch that performed an aerial demonstration. The armed suspect interdiction demonstration included special response team Border Patrol agents who fast-roped out of the hovering UH-1 helicopter to the amazement of the crowd.

Air Interdiction Agents Gethon Robinson and Caleb Vidaurri introduced Air and Marine’s unique mission and explained the capabilities of the EC 120 to the eager crowd. In the long standing tradition of Laredo Air Branch’s commitment to educating young people, Agents Robinson and Vidaurri also conducted mini-helicopter pilot training seminars to the delight of the children and young adults in attendance.

CBP Air and Marine’s participation in the air show was a success as it afforded the agents of Laredo Air Branch an opportunity to notify the public of its role in homeland security as well as to interact with the children to become role models to young adults.

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.