An article in the US military publication highlights that the US-Dominican partnership “Sovereign Skies” has been effective in halting illegal drug flights to the Dominican Republic.
The report states that in 2010, illegal drugs were being flown into the Dominican Republic at an alarming rate of more than 130 illegal flights per year with drug runners taking off in small, private planes from South America, mainly Venezuela, landing at remote strips near the Dominican coastline and offloading their illegal cargo. After the drugs were handed over, the pilot would be airborne and heading back for South America in a matter of minutes. This scenario repeated itself about every 72 hours. The drugs were imported with the purpose of exporting them to Europe, Central and North America.
As reported, the goals of Sovereign Skies were first to help the Dominican air force regain Dominican air sovereignty, second, to expand training in maritime interdiction operations, and third, to encourage all of the partner nations in the region toward a common aim, using similar tactics and hand-over procedures to find, track and stop illicit drug traffic.
It writes that the Dominican government decided to use the A-29B Super Tucano. The aircraft was deemed to be fast enough to intercept civilian aircraft suspected of trafficking illegal drugs, but also capable of flying slowly and loitering in an area long enough to track and monitor suspect aircraft. It can also be outfitted with surveillance equipment capable of operating in infrared or night vision modes.
Dominican air force pilots were trained in a military base at Columbia, South Carolina as part of the program.
As reported, the Sovereign Skies Program has yielded impressive results with a reduction of an average of 130 illicit air tracks per annum to zero illicit air tracks in more than three years. Additionally, the A-29Bs have aided in multiple sea-based intercepts resulting in the capture of an estimated 2,000 pounds of illegal substances worth upwards of US$22.5 million.
The military publication article states: “The Dominicans took it upon themselves to stem illicit trafficking and regain control of their airspace”. It points out that the US and Colombia simply helped the initiatives thrive. Work has continued with the initial cadre training new A-29B pilots at a steady pace. This, it states, has led the Dominican government to regain air sovereignty for the country and serves as the example for the region on bringing illicit air traffic to a decisive halt.
http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/494968/afsouth-partnership-brings-illicit-air-drug-trafficking-to-a-halt.aspx