TUCSON, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) air crews worked together to save a 65-year-old injured woman near Tanque Verde Falls in Arizona last week.
The Tucson Air Branch received a call from Pima County Rescue requesting air support to locate the U.S. citizen. She had sustained multiple injuries after a fall.
An H125 A-Star aircrew was launched first to locate the injured woman. Shortly after, a UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew arrived on scene to conduct a hoist rescue. After a successful hoist extraction, the patient was transported to Banner University Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.
“At the heart of our mission is the unwavering commitment to preserve life no matter the circumstances,” said Tucson Air Branch Deputy Director Jose Muriente. “Our agents are on the front lines, providing humanitarian assistance to people on unforgiving terrain often resulting in injuries and even loss of life.”
Air and Marine Agents frequently conduct life-saving efforts, while carrying out their respective missions. Agents have rescued 71 individuals in Fiscal Year 2023 to date.
AMO safeguards our nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO serves as the nation’s experts in airborne and maritime law enforcement.
In Fiscal Year 2022, AMO enforcement actions resulted in 967 arrests and 134,981 apprehensions of undocumented individuals, as well as the seizure or disruption of 250,616 pounds of cocaine, 1,475 pounds of fentanyl, 25,625 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,342 weapons, and $21.7 million.
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