U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) safeguards our Nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO conducts its mission in the air and maritime environments at and beyond the border, and within the nation's interior. AMO interdicts unlawful people and cargo approaching U.S. borders, investigates criminal networks and provides domain awareness in the air and maritime environments, and responds to contingencies and national taskings.
The statistics on this page refect AMO's drug seizures, search and rescue efforts, and Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations. In Fiscal Year 2020, AMO agents seized or disrupted 285,976 pounds of narcotics, seized $51.5 million, contributed to the apprehensions of 47,813 individuals and rescued 184 persons.
Drug Seizures
Search and Rescue Efforts
CBP agents frequently conduct life-saving efforts, while carrying out their respective missions. Numbers below reflect Fiscal Year Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 through YTD 2021.
Fiscal Year 2021 runs October 01, 2020 - September 30, 2021.
| FY19 | FY20 | FY21 TD MAY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air and Marine Operations | 377 | 184 | 186 |
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Flight Operations
CBP’s oversight framework and procedures ensure that UAS operations are in compliance with privacy and civil liberty laws and standards. In compliance with Congressional reporting requirements, CBP makes publicly available the number of missions and flight hours flown by the UAS, split into three categories: maritime border security; state, local, and tribal coordination; land border security. All missions and flight hours (including training and maintenance flights) are allocated to one of these three categories. Missions that were categorized in CBP AMO’s system of record as maritime reconnaissance/surveillance/target acquisition are classified as ‘Maritime Border Security’. Missions flown in coordination with a state, local, or tribal primary partner are classified as ‘State, Local, & Tribal Coordination’. All other hours are classified as ‘Land Border Security’.
Numbers listed below are reflective of AMO's operations for FY 2017 - FY 2020.
| Mission Category | FY17 Mission Count | FY17 Flight Hours | FY18 Mission Count | FY18 Flight Hours | FY19 Mission Count | FY19 Flight Hours | FY20 Mission Count | FY20 Flight Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Border Security | 961 | 7,120 | 1,555 | 7,642 | 2,417 | 7,849 | 2,125 | 8,164 |
| Maritime Border Security | 20 | 116 | 59 | 287 | 75 | 367 | 57 | 672 |
| State, Local & Tribal Coordination | 9 | 40 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 11 | - | - |
| Total | 990 | 7,276 | 1,616 | 7,942 | 2,495 | 8,227 | 2,182 | 8,836 |