CBP, partners seize more than $58M worth of cocaine in Eastern Pacific Ocean

A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collaboration with federal authorities recently resulted in the seizure of 1.7 tons of cocaine worth over $58 million.

The efforts of the agency’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) National Air Security Operations Center (NASOC) P-3 crews and those of federal law enforcement personnel disrupted a narcotics smuggling attempt in the Eastern Pacific Ocean last month.

Through Campaign Martillo and a Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)-led operation, a NASOC P-3 Long Range Tracker crew detected a suspicious vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The aircrew conducted a hand-off to a partner aircraft that vectored U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Munro (WMSL-755) for interdiction, with officials adding the USCG team detained four people and seized 1.7 tons of cocaine.

The P-3 aircraft operate throughout North, Central, and South America to defend domestic borders while preventing attempts to smuggle persons or contraband. AMO safeguards the nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at and beyond the border.

AMO is staffed with approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.