CBP Air Seizes Over Ton of Cocaine in Pacific

by Jim Kouri, CPP

US Customs and Border Protection’s Air Interdiction Agents identified and tracked a suspected smuggling vessel loaded with more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine, bringing a
two-day interdiction effort to a successful resolution Aug 14.
   
On Aug. 13, two CBP P-3 aircraft from the Surveillance Branch East, Jacksonville, Fla., located and began tracking a vessel suspected of transporting narcotics in the Eastern Pacific. Working with a US Navy vessel, CBP agents tracked the “Go Fast” boat and coordinated the interdiction with the Navy vessel for two days for over 5,400 nautical miles.
   
Prior to the interdiction, the CBP P-3 aircrew observed the smugglers discard bales of the contraband overboard. As the Navy ship approached, the smugglers attempted to set their vessel on fire to destroy evidence. Navy personnel successfully fought the fire, preserving the vessel and its evidence and rescued the four “go-fast” crew members.
   
The seizure of more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine makes the total seizures for Surveillance Branch East approximately 114,500 pounds this fiscal year, well in excess of $1 billion street value.
   
Close cooperation with the Department of Defense and other Department of Homeland Security agencies shown in this case enhances national security by preventing illegal narcotics, terrorists, and weapons from being smuggled into our nation.
   
The one-hundred person, six airplane Air Branch of Surveillance Branch East Jacksonville operates aircraft throughout Central and South America participating in America’s war on drugs and securing our borders.

US 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 US laws.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he’s a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations.  He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.   Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He’s a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com.  He’s also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he’s syndicated by AXcessNews.Com.   He’s appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc.  His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri’s own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
   

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Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). In addition, he's the former editor for the House Conservatives Fund's weblog. Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com and PHXnews.com. He's also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. To subscribe to Kouri's newsletter write to COPmagazine@aol.com and write "Subscription" on the subject line. | More from Jim Kouri, CPP