In Florida, a high (-tech) eye on smugglers
Customs and Border Protection air interdiction agent Michael Ringgold boards the Bombardier DHC-8-200 or “Dash-8” airplane for a mission at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Homestead, Fla. The agency patrols the waters off South Florida with the plane, which is equipped with the cutting-edge combination of smuggler-spotting equipment and computer software. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
A high-tech camera is mounted just behind the nose gear on the Bombardier DHC-8-200 or “Dash-8” plane, which enables Customs and Border Protection agents to record photos and video of suspect vessels. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Customs and Border Protection pilot Jim Hackler, left, and co-pilot Henry Castellanos conduct a visual sweep of a camp on Andros Island, Bahamas, looking for potential “target vessels” (smuggling boats) from the cockpit of the Bombardier DHC-8-200 or “Dash-8” plane during a mission. Both men are air interdiction agents. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
During his mission, Customs and Border Protection pilot Jim Hackler gets video of vessels in the waters off South Florida. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Bobby Sunderland of the U.S. Coast Guard, center, reacts as Customs and Border Protection agent Michael Ringgold shows him the new features of the enhanced radar aboard the Bombardier DHC-8-200 or “Dash-8” airplane during a mission. With them is U.S. Coast Guard censors branch training chief Don Rudat, right. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Customs and Border Protection air interdiction agent Michael Ringgold restarts the high-tech system from a laptop on the Bombardier DHC-8-200 or “Dash-8” airplane during a mission. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Customs and Border Protection agent Michael Ringgold watches video of a potential “target vessel” from his vantage point aboard the Bombardier DHC-8-200 or “Dash-8” airplane during a mission. He can monitor the radar and watch video of vessels shot with an on-board high-powered camera at the same time on his Windows-based computer. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Customs and Border Protection agent Michael Ringgold points out potential “target vessels” on the radar screen aboard the Bombardier DHC-8-200 or “Dash-8” airplane. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
The Customs and Border Protection’s Air Division patrols the waters off South Florida with the Bombardier DHC-8-200 or “Dash-8” airplane, which is equipped with a powerful surveillance system that allows the agency to track up to 2,000 items at a time. Only two planes are equipped with such technology. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
