Air and Marine Operations P-3 crews and partners seize nearly nine tons of cocaine over 3 events

WASHINGTON D.C. Aug 25 — Air and Marine Operations (AMO) National Air Security Operations Center, P-3 Long Range Tracker and Airborne Early Warning crews and United States Southern Command partners conducted three counter-narcotics operations in July and August that disrupted 17,620 pounds of cocaine, denying transnational criminal organizations operating in drug source and transit zones an estimated $333.2 million.

• July 11, P-3 Airborne Early Warning and Long Range Tracker crews located and tracked a suspect vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean then turned tracking over to a United States Navy P-8 aircrew assumed tracking. The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk launched a helicopter crew and small boat team to interdict the vessel. Coast Guard teams seized 1,748 pounds of cocaine and detained three individuals.
• On July12, a P-3 Airborne Early Warning crew detected a suspect go-fast vessel in the Caribbean Sea. Partner nation teams tracked the vessel and discovered approximately 12,456 pounds of cocaine in a suspected offload location.
• On August 6, a P-3 Long Range Tracker crew located a suspect fishing vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The aircrew surveilled the vessel and guided the United States Coast Guard Cutter Forward to conduct a law enforcement boarding. Coast Guard teams seized 3,416 pounds of cocaine and detained four individuals.

National Air Security Operations Center P-3 capabilities continue to prove essential in support of United States Southern Command operations, contributing to an increased law enforcement presence in narcotics transit zones. This partnership bolsters support to the U.S. and international law enforcement by sharing information and intelligence to help expand target packages.

AMO has two P-3 National Air Security Operations Centers, located in Jacksonville, FL and Corpus Christi, TX. These P-3 aircraft operate throughout North, Central and South America in defense of the borders of the United States and to prevent attempts to smuggle persons or contraband.

AMO safeguards our nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO serves as the nation’s experts in airborne and maritime law enforcement.

In Fiscal Year 2020, AMO enforcement actions resulted in the seizure or disruption of 194,220 pounds of cocaine, 278,492 pounds of marijuana, 15,985 pounds of methamphetamine, 952 weapons and $51.5 million as well as 1,066 arrests and 47,872 apprehensions of undocumented migrants.