Border air patrols launched from N.Y. base

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Beefed up air patrols designed to intercept terrorists, drug smugglers and illegal aliens along the nation’s vast northeastern border will be launched from a base commissioned Friday.

The new Air and Marine Operations facility at a former Air Force base in the northeast corner of New York is one of five that will be responsible for tightening surveillance along the U.S.-Canadian border.

The first facility opened in August in Bellingham, Wash. Others are tentatively planned for near Detroit; Grand Forks, N.D., and Great Falls, Mont.

National security is a main concern. But Department of Homeland Security helicopter pilot Dennis Del Grosso said agents on patrol are looking for anything from low-flying planes trying to skirt radar to illegal aliens or drug runners trying to sneak over the border on snowmobiles.

“Vehicles, boats and airplanes that carry drugs or illegal immigrants can just as easily carry terrorists or weapons of mass destruction,” said Charles Stallworth, director of Air and Marine operations.

Stallworth said the five bases, when up and running, will give agents the ability to respond anywhere along the more than 4,000-mile border within an hour.

Border patrol agents say they have noticed more air smuggling efforts over the border recently. Just as pilots fly drugs in from Mexico, authorities fear planes carrying terrorists or explosives could come over the northern border.

“It will be more secure. Why? Because we have people who can respond,” Stallworth said.

Planes from the old Plattsburgh Air Force Base will patrol the largely wooded border east to Maine, and along Lake Ontario and the western portion of Lake Erie. High-speed boats from the base will regularly patrol Lake Champlain and cross into the St. Lawrence River and other waterways as needed, according to Department of Homeland Security officials.

Two prop planes and two helicopters will be based at the new facility, along with some 40 people.