CBP takes over Air and Marine office

CBP takes over Air and Marine office    In a shift within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Air and Marine Operations (AMO) has been transferred from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
   Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, said the long-planned transition would occur in two phases. The first, moving AMO intact into CBP, was completed on Oct. 31. The second phase, integrating all CBP air and marine personnel, missions and assets, will be completed by the end of fiscal year 2005.
   The former ICE Office of Air and Marine Operations comprises more than 1,000 air and marine law enforcement officers and detection systems specialists. About 470 pilots fly 42 helicopters and 92 fixed-wing aircraft, and 93 marine enforcement officers operate 73 high-performance marine vessels.