Published: November 19, 2002
preview / download Chicago, IL – November 19, 2002 – On Tuesday, November, 19, 2002, NBC5 and WSNS/Telemundo will air a special report on the U.S. Customs Service’s Air and Marine interdiction Unit on each station’s 10p.m newscast. In what is a first for Chicago viewers, this special report will be seen simultaneously in English on NBC5, and in Spanish on WSNS/Telemundo.
NBC5’s reporter, Phil Rogers and WSNS/Telemundo reporter, Alba Mediola, joined U.S. Customs Service’s Air and Marine Interdiction unit on border control missions. This special unit’s mission is to stop drug runners bringing cocaine out of South America. They fly a variety of aircraft and chase drug dealers in the area of the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas. Phil and Alba were given exclusive access to these missions. They fly with them over the Florida Keys in one of their Blackhawk helicopters. They also ride with them as they do an actual intercept of a suspected drug boat. In addition, they traveled to their command center in Riverside California, where they track every aircraft in flight, trying to determine who the legitimate aircraft are, and who might be drug planes coming out of South America.
This unique look into the US Customs Service’s Air and Marine Interdiction Unit has also taken on new significance, because the agency is now tasked with watching the borders for suspected terror activity in the new emphasis on homeland security.
NBC5 and WSNS/Telemundo are proud of this joint venture. This is an unprecendented event that will serve both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Chicago viewers.
