AMO and Partners Seize 1.2 Tons of Cocaine in Eastern Pacific

An Air and Marine Operations (AMO) National Air Security Operations Center, P-3 Long Range Tracker crew partnered with federal authorities to disrupt a smuggling attempt in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and seized 1.2 tons of cocaine, denying narcotics traffickers almost $44 million USD in illicit proceeds.

On April 4, a NASOC P-3, LRT crew, located a suspected smuggling vessel near South America while on patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The aircrew continued to monitor the vessel and vectored the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Saskatoon small boat teams to intercept the suspect vessel. After an unsuccessful attempt to evade the Canadian small boats, U.S. Coast Guard teams boarded the vessel, detained 3 people, and seized approximately 2,315 pounds of cocaine.

NASOC P-3 capabilities continue to prove essential to law enforcement in support of SOUTHCOM counter narcotics operations to increase the disruption of drugs in the Western Hemisphere. This increased presence bolstered support to the U.S. and partner nation law enforcement by sharing information and intelligence to help expand target packages. Key partners have been involved in over 60% of drug disruptions since April 2020 (up from 50% in 2019).

AMO has two P-3 NASOCs, 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.

FMI: www.cbp.gov