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  4. Air and Marine Operations Seizes Massive Amounts of Cash, Guns, and Drugs in FY2020

Air and Marine Operations Seizes Massive Amounts of Cash, Guns, and Drugs in FY2020

Release Date
Thu, 10/29/2020

WASHINGTON— Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents and officers have diligently continued to protect the nation. Blackhawk

Adjusting to great challenges including; devising ways to safely interdict and apprehend illegal entrants—while protecting themselves and the individuals, altering shift rotations and decontaminating aircraft and vessels to conduct the mission, AMO agents stopped great quantities of illicit narcotics from entering the U.S., and prevented numerous human smuggling attempts.

During FY2020 AMO conducted 94,278 flight hours, and 35,444 float hours along the nation’s borders and in the interior, in coordination with Federal, state and local partners.

Top seizures by location:

  • Caribbean Air and Marine Branch seized $10,647,777 cash
  • National Air Security Operations Center-Jacksonville disrupted 64,069 lbs of Cocaine
  • San Diego Air and Marine Branch seized 3,979 lbs of Meth
  • San Diego Air and Marine Branch seized 199,308 lbs of Marijuana
  • San Diego Air and Marine Branch seized 231 lbs of Heroin
  • San Diego Air and Marine Branch seized 221 lbs of Fentanyl
  • Great Lakes Air and Marine Branch seized 214 weapons
  • New Orleans Air and Marine Branch seized 7 aircraft
  • Tucson Air Branch seized 66 vehicles
  • San Diego Air and Marine Branch seized 100 vessels
  • McAllen Air and Marine Branch apprehended 11,055 individuals
  • Miami Air and Marine Branch arrested 149 suspects
  • Yuma Air Branch rescued 53 individualsvessel

In total for FY20, AMO agents seized or disrupted 285,976.62 pounds of narcotics, seized $51,559,843, contributed to the apprehension of 47,813 individuals, and rescued 184 persons.

AMO also conducted numerous operations around the country  to include high profile law enforcement operations during National Special Security events such as Super Bowl LIV in Miami, the Kentucky Derby, and Mardi Gras.

To stay up to date on the daily operations of Air and Marine Operations follow us on Twitter @CBPAMO.

U.S. 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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021