Maine International Border Agents use drones to make more arrests

The Patrol agent of the US Houlton sector, Donald Lee, the center, the discussions with the CBP public relations officer, Ryan Brissette and the patrol agent, Dylan Brandt, on drone operations, Ryan Brissette, with the patrol agent, about drone operations during a media event. (Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli | County)

Calais, tomorrow -border patrol agents that supervise the international borders of Maine have based more on drones and other surveillance tools this year, while they intensified their application efforts and stopped more people.

The total number of restraints of the Houlton sector of American customs and border protection in the first five months of this fiscal year – which started in October – increased by 14 percent compared to the same time period last year, officials during an event for Mass – Media Wednesday. At the same time, the number of illegal crossings by vehicles through tomorrow has decreased.

Patrol agent Dylan Brandt has assigned these changes to several things, including an increase in the use of surveillance tools, adding concrete barriers along the border sections and More accent to detention and removal.

“Our agents are there, doing the job they have always done, but we also have a variety of technological improvements and infrastructures that we worked in the Houlton sector,” he said during the event, which included various demonstrations in Calais and Eastport.

The Houlton sector covers the whole state tomorrow, including terrestrial and coastal borders.

So far this fiscal year – from October 2024 to February – the Agency reported that it has detained 172 people in tomorrow, with 60 of the coast. From October 2023 to February 2024, he reported 123.

The increase of the holdings in Maine contradicts a decrease of 40.5 percent on the entire US border in the North in the same period of time, from 6,041 to 3,594.

Part of the explanation is that the Houlton sector has doubled the number of drones available for use on the ground this fiscal year. Previously, the consumption of drones has been moved according to the need, but now each station in tomorrow has trained drones and operators, said Brandt.

During the event on Wednesday, Donald Lee patrol agent used a drone to demonstrate how the agency examines areas, such as a railway route between Calais and St. Ștefan, New Brunswick, which is a common place of passage, because it is physically easier to do so than by passing through the river.

The two banks of the river are close enough that children playing in a Canadian park could be heard from the US during Wednesday’s demonstration.

The sector uses a variety of different drones, with various capacities, including smaller and larger light boats that come in a huge box and must be transported behind a truck.

The drones are equipped with heat vision and nocturnal vision capabilities, offering the agents eye on distant areas, which traditionally were harder to patrol, especially in winter.

During the demonstration, Lee indicated the infrared function on its monitor and explained that it is useful for both day and night operations.

Drones are not only used for detecting illegal inputs, but also to support local law and search and rescue efforts, Brandt said. They capture videos that can be used for further review.

“I had several opportunities in this fiscal year in which I used drones to make a restraint,” he said. “It always offers an additional element of safety for officers for us.”

In addition to drones, agents in the Houlton sector use other surveillance tools, including an improved mobile surveillance truck, which is new to the Calais station, although they have used models older than a few years, according to Patrol agent James Trainor, who is responsible for the Calais station.

Brandt said that surveillance trucks detect a potential illegal activity through rooms and radar.

In addition to terrestrial technology instruments, the Houlton sector uses canine officers. During a Wednesday demonstration, a dog, named Dan, helped find a person who simulates hiding behind a vehicle.

The sector also has three boats that patrol the international border between Maine and Canada by boat at all times. The Calais station of the Agency is responsible for the water border that extends from Vanceboro to the border in New Hampshire.

Including all bays and holes, the coast border covers about 3,478 miles, according to train. He mentioned that the waves can reach up to 28 meters because of the Gulf Fundy, which makes that section very difficult to patrol.

Whether they follow the maritime or terrestrial border, the agents are looking for people who cross or with illicit smuggling, said Brandt.

“This could include anything, from the illegal entrance to someone who is smuggling drugs, ammunition, weapons, cash, illegal drugs, human trafficking, to the terrorism of things,” he said. “These are all the threats we are looking for and anyone who chooses not to go into an entrance port is the choice of the violation of the law and it is someone we want to find and identify and use appropriate consequences.”