Customs to Eye Waters Using Predator

[unhappycamper]

Customs to Eye Waters Using Predator
December 08, 2009
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Monday took delivery of its first Predator aircraft to scan U.S. waters for smugglers.

The Predator B is expected to begin testing in early 2010 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida and be used in the Caribbean to combat drug trafficking.

The plane has an enhanced radar system compared to the Predator B that has been used to combat drug smuggling and movement of illegal immigrants on land borders for four years. CBP operates three drones from Libby Army Airfield in Sierra Vista, Ariz., and two from Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.

Another Predator B for maritime use is expected at Cape Canaveral in January, said CBP spokesman Juan Munoz-Torres. The agency plans to eventually have 12 drones for land patrols and six for maritime patrols.

The planes can be disassembled and flown in C-130 cargo planes to other locations but it is unlikely that the first plane will be used in San Diego, Munoz-Torres said. The Southern California seas has been the site of a surge in illegal immigrant smuggling from Mexico.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/customs-to-eye-waters-using-predator.html?wh=news

[Sabriel]

1. Man, it took me a while to figure out that headline

I think I read it four times.

Not to be too paranoid, but how long before there are regular Predator flights all over the country just for "surveillance"?

Too paranoid lately....

[unhappycamper]

2. It took me two or three times to figure it out also.

We gotta keep the General Atomics factory working pumping out these $6 million dollar toys.