HOULTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Northeast, Boston Field Office, Houlton and Swanton Border Patrol Sectors, and Houlton and Plattsburgh Air Branches, look back on fiscal year 2012 to reflect on the accomplishments and valued partnerships with other law enforcement agencies in the border regions they share.
“In this ever-changing world, CBP uses a layered approach of personnel, technology and intelligence coupled with integrated partnerships with other agencies, and community engagement to protect the United States from all threats,” said Shelbe Benson-Fuller, CBP public affairs specialist. “CBP continually works with local, state, federal, international and tribal partners, combining personnel and assets to stay ahead of criminal elements. Leveraging partnerships is a valuable force-multiplier in accomplishing the collective mission of reducing crime and improving the quality of life in our communities.
“Even though each component within CBP has its own area of responsibility and traditional missions, the national strategy is the same – preventing terrorists and terrorists’ weapons from entering the country, while facilitating legitimate trade and travel,” she continued. “CBP agents and officers in the northeast, though geographically separated, are unified in this mission, working diligently with each other and their partners in securing our nation.”
Office of Air and Marine Highlights from fiscal year 2012 include:
Houlton Air Branch — The Houlton Air Branch’s combined efforts yielded total seizures of $298,585 in currency; 436 pounds of marijuana; 0.2 pounds of methamphetamine, one vehicle and six arrests, while supporting the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies around the region.
U.S. Border Patrol highlights from fiscal year 2012 include:
On March 26, 2011, two Houlton Station Border Patrol agents seized $89,808 in U.S. currency, $10,440 in Western Union traveler’s checks and $200 in Canadian currency from two male citizens from Canada.
Countless hours of interviews, further investigation by ICE HSI, and sharing of information between CBP and other law enforcement agencies revealed a fraud scheme that preyed on the elderly. The telephone scam involved the subjects advising the elderly of a grandchild or other relative desperately in need of money, and instructing them to wire funds. The victims were subsequently bilked out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Over the summer of 2012, the subjects were sentenced to two years in prison each, and ordered to pay $116,117 in restitution. The $104,000 initially seized by Border Patrol agents was returned to 18 of the victims.
“Houlton Sector agents and employees continue to strengthen their partnerships with other agencies and stakeholders in the communities in which they live and work,” Benson-Fuller said. “Continued integration efforts with Canadian partners through the IBETs, both Atlantic and Eastern, conducted 10 joint operations throughout the area. Continued integration efforts for border security with state, local and tribal partners through Operation Stonegarden conducted 29 operations through this program.”
Houlton Sector agents hosted their third round of Citizens Academies in Calais, Fort Fairfield, Houlton and Van Buren. The events allowed local citizens a look into the mission and operations of CBP in Maine. Representatives from the Boston Field Office, Houlton Air Branch, Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and other local, state, federal and international agencies participated, showing the importance of partnerships and shared intelligence in border security. Fort Fairfield agents also concluded their first Explorer Academy on Aug. 2. This ongoing program is designed to allow Border Patrol agents to mentor local youth, and provide them with practical training and hands-on experience in the law enforcement field.
A total of eight Houlton Sector agents were recognized at the CBP Commissioner’s Award Ceremony in March of 2012; two Houlton agents received the Meritorious Service Award for Valor in recognition for saving the lives of innocent bus passengers and bystanders from an unstable subject claiming to have a bomb on March 30, 2011.
