4 Navy Radar Planes to Hunt Aircraft Used to Smuggle Drugs

Four radar-equipped tracking planes from Miramar Naval Air Station will soon begin patrolling along the Mexican border between San Diego and Yuma, Ariz., in a six-month test to determine whether the Navy can aid authorities in catching drug smugglers.

Under the arrangement approved Friday by Congress in an amendment to a defense bill, the E-2 aircraft will be dispatched expressly to look for planes smuggling drugs through the 150-mile-long area, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-San Diego) said. Currently, the Navy routinely reports sightings of suspicious aircraft to the U.S. Customs Service.

The airplanes will patrol the area about 20 hours a month, beginning sometime before Sept. 30.

The four planes are Navy Reserve aircraft, and their operational costs will be paid out of Miramar’s budget, Hunter said.

“Only 1% of all the private aircraft entering the United States laden with illegal drugs are ever apprehended,” Hunter said. “If this works out and we make more arrests or deter smugglers, then we’ll make it permanent.”

Jerome Hollander, a Customs spokesman, said the agency has similar agreements with the Air Force in Riverside.

“We appreciate any and all help from the military,” Hollander said. “The E-2 is a good piece of equipment, and it should help us in that area.”

Under the plan, the Navy will report any sightings to one of several Customs stations in the area, Hollander said. A Customs airplane will then be sent so authorities can make arrests.