Senate bill would authorize use of drones to identify illicit drug smuggling

A bill designed to expand the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) by the U.S. Coast Guard to identify and interdict illicit drugs coming into the country was introduced in the Senate last week.

The Coast Guard has actionable intelligence on over 80 percent of drugs being smuggled into the country from South America, but it only has the ability to stop less than 10 percent. This bill, the Coast Guard Drug Detection and Interdiction Act, would help correct that.

“Our country is safeguarded by the skilled men and women of the U.S.,” Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), one of the bill’s sponsors, said. “Coast Guard who keep Americans safe and secure. This important legislation will help provide the Coast Guard with the necessary funding to continue to patrol our coast, identify potential threats, and keep illegal drugs out of our Hoosier communities.”

Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) also sponsored the bill.

“The U.S. Coast Guard keeps families in Florida safe by patrolling the beaches, shore waters, and maritime territory of our state and by conducting search and rescue operations,” Scott said. “But one of their most important jobs is to intercept boat shipments of illegal drugs and the victims of human trafficking. By providing our U.S. Coast Guard members with additional ways to identify and prevent drugs from coming into our country, we are keeping American families safe.”

The bill authorizes the Coast Guard to provide $2 million for both 2020 and 2021 for assessment of the expanded use of medium-range unmanned aircraft systems. It also authorizes $5 million in each fiscal year for additional long-range maritime patrol aircraft within the program.

“Arizona leads the way in developing and deploying unmanned aircraft systems, which are proven tools in our work against drug smuggling,” Sinema said. “Providing the U.S. Coast Guard access to these critical tools will help keep Americans safe.”