ONDCP Seal
 PolicyPolicy
Agency Budget Summary
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Department of Transportation

United States Coast Guard

I. Resource Summary

resource summary

II. Methodology

  • Operating Expenses (OE): OE funds are used to operate Coast Guard facilities, maintain capital equipment, improve management effectiveness, and recruit, train, and sustain its all volunteer active duty military and civilian workforce personnel. The Coast Guard's Program Budget is a systematic process by which costs to operate and maintain multi-mission resources from the OE appropriation are allocated to operating programs, such as Drug Interdiction. Items contained in the Coast Guard's drug control Operating Expenses budget reflect drug interdiction's pro rata share of their costs.

  • Acquisition, Construction and Improvements (AC&I): AC&I funds are used to acquire, construct, renovate and improve capital assets. In scoring drug related funding requests within the AC&I appropriation, only those assets with a contribution to drug interdiction mission area apply. For each AC&I project, the Coast Guard allocates the percentage of the project corresponding to the percentage of time that asset (or type of asset) contributed to the drug law enforcement mission.

  • Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E): This unit contains funding associated with the direct and indirect project support for the drug law enforcement mission. Funding for direct project support is based on R&D tasks done solely to assist and improve drug detection and interdiction. Test and evaluation of drug detection equipment for improved search techniques under the Comprehensive Maritime Law Enforcement project is an example.

  • FTE: FTE's are calculated based on the percentage of personnel dedicated to drug enforcement from FY 1998 actuals extrapolated from the Coast Guard's Corporate Database accounting system. This percentage is then adjusted for FY 1999 - 2000 personnel "plus or minus" growth according to the drug budget funding activity. Due to the Coast Guard's multi-mission nature as illustrated in the program budget algorithm, this methodology portrays the best estimate of current FTE associated with drug law enforcement activity.

III. Program Summary

  • Maritime drug interdiction is an integral component of the Strategy. The Coast Guard enforces federal drug control laws in the transit and arrival zones as the nation's principle maritime law enforcement agency with jurisdiction on, under and over the high seas and U. S. territorial waters. As part of the Coast Guard's Maritime Security mission area, the Coast Guard's drug interdiction goal is to reduce the supply of illegal drugs by denying maritime smuggling routes as part of the interagency effort to impact the national demand level. Achieving this goal is in alignment with ONDCP's PME system which seeks to reduce trafficker success rates in the transit and arrival zones.

  • In support of the Strategy, the Coast Guard has developed a ten year Counterdrug Strategic Plan, Campaign STEEL WEB. This plan is a comprehensive approach to counterdrug law enforcement in the transit and arrival zones. The four cornerstones of this strategy are:

    • Maintain a strong interdiction presence highlighted by agile and flexible operations in the transit and arrival zones;

    • Strengthen ties with source and transit nations to increase their willingness and ability to reduce the production and trafficking of illicit drugs within their sovereign boundaries, including territorial seas;

    • Support interagency efforts to combat drug smuggling;

    • Promote efforts to reduce illegal drug and alcohol use in the maritime environment.

Highlights of the Coast Guard's drug control programs are listed below by the Strategy goal and initiative they support.

Goal 4: Shield America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat.

The Coast Guard aims to conduct effective, agile interdiction operations directed at high threat drug smuggling activity to disrupt and eliminate maritime trafficking routes and modes through seizures, disruption and displacement. To this end, the Coast Guard:

  • Deploys a fleet of vessels and aircraft that are equipped with sensors, communications systems and detection technologies guided by coordinated intelligence to target, identify, and interdict drug traffickers in the maritime transit and arrival zones;

  • Participates in coordinated and joint operations with law enforcement and DoD agencies to leverage the effectiveness of transit zone interdiction efforts. The Coast Guard plans and executes cooperative operations enhancing detection, monitoring, interdiction, and apprehension in the transit zone; and

  • Supports the Strategy's impact target of reducing the trafficker success rates 10 percent by 2002 and 20 percent by 2007.

Goal 5: Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply.

  • The Coast Guard conducts combined law enforcement operations with nations in the source and transit zones. These operations provide training, bolster the participating nations' law enforcement capabilities and strengthen their political will to fight the adverse impacts of illicit smuggling.

  • Coast Guard policy and legal experts, in conjunction with the Department of State, negotiate maritime counterdrug agreements with source and transit zone countries. These agreements promote the effectiveness of seamless law enforcement efforts and facilitate the exercise of host nation authority. Through such initiatives, Coast Guard strives to make territorial boundaries as functionally transparent to law enforcement forces as they are to the smuggling community.

  • The Coast Guard plays a leadership role in multinational initiatives such as the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP). Multinational organizations coordinate international and regional drug control programs to ensure greater alignment of participating nations' goals with one another and to facilitate cost-sharing.

    • The Coast Guard provides ongoing support to lead agencies focused on Goal 5 programs, which are responsible for reductions in drug flow from source countries. These efforts include aircraft for Operation LASER STRIKE, intelligence resources concentrating on source countries, and personnel for international training in source countries.

IV. Budget Summary

1999 Program

  • The FY 1999 drug program will sustain an increased interdiction presence in the Operation FRONTIER SHIELD area of operations around Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Pulse operations in the vicinity of Haiti and the Dominican Republic will be reinitiated in FY 1999 as a continuation of the FY 1998 proof of concept Operation FRONTIER LANCE. Additionally, Operation FRONTIER SABER in the southern Bahamas will address re-emerging smuggling threats in that region.

  • In addition, the FY 1999 drug program will allow the Coast Guard to maintain interdiction efforts in the maritime regions along the Southwest Border. Under Operations GULF SHIELD and BORDER SHIELD, the Coast Guard has established maritime interdiction operations that complement the coalition efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to reduce trafficking across the Southwest Border. By cultivating its relationship with the Mexican Navy, the Coast Guard is well positioned to enhance international cooperation as part of the Southwest Border Initiative.

  • The FY 1999 drug control program includes $765 million for drug related activities in support of Goals 4 & 5 of the Strategy. This total includes $487 million for Operating Expenses; $275 million for Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements; and $3 million for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation. This FY 1999 program level includes $44 million in non-recurring operating funds, $217 million in capital funds and $3 million in R&D funds provided in the supplemental part of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, P.L. 105-277.

  • The FY 1999 OE program level includes the funding necessary to effectively enhance the Coast Guard drug law enforcement mission. It focuses on increasing the tempo of operations and end-game capability by improving the effectiveness of assets in executing coordinated pulse operations. It also provides funding to begin to field and operate additional drug interdiction capital assets being acquired with FY 1999 supplemental funding.

  • The FY 1999 OE program level also includes funding to establish and begin operating a Caribbean Support Tender (CST) to train and support foreign maritime forces in the Caribbean basin. The Coast Guard will operate a converted 180-foot buoy tender as a ship-based, mobile training and support vessel designed to improve the operational capabilities and effectiveness of transit zone nations maritime forces.

  • The FY 1999 AC&I program level provides the funding for new initiatives designed to expand drug law enforcement efforts. These initiatives include: acquiring additional coastal patrol boats for maritime interdiction operations; reactivating two T-AGOS vessels to provide single mission, special purpose support for interdiction operations designed to counter the growing surface threat; purchasing 8 fast deployable pursuit boats to enhance end-game capabilities; reactivating and outfitting up to 6 HU-25 aircraft with advanced sensors for maritime patrol missions; upgrading sensor and communications capabilities on existing cutter and aircraft platforms; and commencing an operational test and evaluation ofthe use of force from aircraft to stop fleeing go-fast boats.

  • The FY 1999 RDT&E funding is primarily related to improved surveillance and drug detection systems.

2000 Request

  • The FY 2000 drug program annualizes the operations of assets brought on line with FY 1999 supplemental funds.

  • The FY 2000 drug program level will sustain an increased interdiction presence in the Operation FRONTIER SHIELD area of operations around Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Operation FRONTIER LANCE area of operations around Hispaniola will also see increased interdiction presence as a continuation of operations conducted in the region in FY 1999. Additionally, periodic pulses in support of Operation FRONTIER SABER in the southern Bahamas will continue to address re-emerging smuggling threats in that region.

  • The FY 2000 drug program will enhance interdiction presence along the Southwest Border with Mexico and the eastern Pacific transit zone along the Central American coast. Under Operation BORDER SHIELD, the Coast Guard will continue maritime interdiction operations that complement the coalition efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to reduce trafficking across the Southwest Border. Further, increased presence in support of Operation PACIFIC TRIDENT is planned for the maritime transit zone off Central America and Mexico.

Goal 4: Shield America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat.

  • The total drug control request for Goal 4 activities for FY 2000 is $560 million.

  • The FY 2000 OE request will allow the Coast Guard to continue Campaign STEEL WEB operations in high threat trafficking areas and operate additional capital assets for drug interdiction operations. These assets include: 6 additional coastal patrol boats for maritime interdiction operations; 2 T-AGOS vessels as single mission, special purpose drug interdiction support platforms; 6 high speed deployable pursuit boats to counter the go-fast boat threat; and 6 HU-25 aircraft with advanced sensors for maritime patrol missions. The request also includes funding to operate and maintain new sensors/communications systems to enhance capabilities of current assets and funding to provide a field scale test of the use of non-lethal force from aircraft.

  • The FY 2000 AC&I and RDT&E funding will maintain critical current capabilities and leverage technology to improve interdiction efficiency.

Goal 5: Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply.

  • The total drug control request for Goal 5 activities for FY 2000 is $6.4 million.

  • The Coast Guard will continue its regional engagement initiatives, including continued planning and participation in bilateral and multilateral operations such as FUERZAS UNIDAS with Panama, Colombia and Venezuela; Operation COLOMBUS with the Colombian Navy; and Operation CONJUNTOS with the Panamanian Maritime Services. These efforts focus on training, international coordination and the development of country teams.

  • In addition, the Coast Guard will continue to operate a Caribbean Support Tender to provide mobile and professional training to various transit zone nations. The effort is designed to improve the operational capabilities and effectiveness of Caribbean basin nations maritime forces.

  • Additionally, the Coast Guard will continue is strong participation in CARIBE VENTURE, a recurring series of multilateral counter-drug operations in the Eastern Caribbean involving French, Dutch, and United Kingdom resources and regional law enforcement authorities; OPBAT, a multi-agency law enforcement operation supporting U.S. and regional counter-drug efforts in the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos Islands; and Operation LASER STRIKE, a source country initiative under the direction of U.S. Southern Command to disrupt production and transportation of illicit drugs

V. Program Accomplishments

  • In FY 1998, the Coast Guard continued Campaign STEEL WEB to reduce the flow of drugs through the transit zone. Campaign funding was primarily dedicated to institutionalizing Operation FRONTIER SHIELD. The Coast Guard permanently staged FRONTIER SHIELD forces to deter and disrupt maritime drug smuggling into Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • At the same time, the Coast Guard continued Operations GULF SHIELD and BORDER SHIELD in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Southern California. These smaller scale operations were conducted to anchor the maritime flanks of the Southwest Border as security efforts ashore were increased.

  • The Coast Guard also conducted a limited pulse, Operation FRONTIER LANCE along the south coast of Haiti and Dominican Republic from March 1, through May 31, to disrupt an emergent threat from drug smugglers using Go-Fast boats.

  • Campaign STEEL WEB will continue to strengthen maritime law enforcement capabilities and increase pressure on transnational criminal organizations that sponsor drug smuggling throughout the transit zone. Increased crime, violence and corruption are closely associated with drug smuggling activity.

Campaign STEEL WEB Impacts:

  • In 1998, Coast Guard assets were staged in the vicinity of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Lesser Antilles to maintain trafficking route denial in this area. FRONTIER SHIELD forces, including interagency and international participants, successfully seized 7,071 pounds of illicit drugs, and disrupted through jettisons and/or aborted smuggling attempts 5 deliveries of approximately 11,025 pounds of drugs. During this time period, interdiction forces seized 10 smuggling vessels and arrested 28 suspects.

  • Drugs arriving in Puerto Rico are of significant concern to any city in the United States, because there are no customs or immigration inspections between Puerto Rico and the continental United States. Interagency participants in FRONTIER SHIELD include: U.S. Customs Service (USCS), Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Department of Defense (DOD), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Forces United for Rapid Action (FURA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Puerto Rico Air National Guard (PRANG), and Puerto Rico Marine Police. International partners include the United Kingdom, Netherlands Antilles, French West Indies, Dominican Republic, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, Anguilla & Montserrat, and Dominica.

  • The IACM also showed a decisive shift in cocaine traffic away from the FRONTIER SHIELD area of operations and into Hispaniola and points west as traffickers were forced to seek other routes. Cocaine shipments to Haiti increased about 50 percent in 1997. The Coast Guard adapted to these new threats by conducting Operation FRONTIER LANCE, a 3 month limited pulse operation in the maritime approaches to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This operation served as a proof-of-concept for staging combined counterdrug operations from foreign soil.

  • The Coast Guard conducted Operation FRONTIER LANCE, a 3 month limited pulse operation in the maritime approaches to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This operation served as a proof-of-concept for staging combined counterdrug operations from foreign soil. Between March 1, 1998 and May 31, 1998, FRONTIER LANCE forces, including interagency and international participants, successfully seized 2,990 pounds of illicit drugs, and disrupted through jettisons and/or aborted smuggling attempts 4 additional Go-Fast boat deliveries. FRONTIER LANCE forces also seized 8 smuggling vessels and arrested 22 suspects during this limited pulse effort.

  • The Coast Guard focused on the proliferation of noncommercial smuggling via small Go-Fast boats in the Florida Straits and Old Bahama Channel. During 1998, OPBAT forces in the Bahamas encountered a marked increase in the frequency of smuggling events bound for the Southeastern United States. IDA forecasts more than 400 Go-Fast events per year in the Transit Zone by 2000. The rapid response capability of these multi-agency OPBAT assets is required to offset the pace of an emergent and unpredictable Go-Fast threat in the region.

    Drug Seizures1997
    Actual    		1998
    Actual
    --Cocaine (lbs)103,61782,623
    --Marijuana Products (lbs)102,53831.390
    --Seizure Cases122129

  • Operation FRONTIER SHIELD began in FY 1997 in the maritime approaches to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and is being continued indefinitely. This region was identified as the second largest gateway, behind the Southwest Border, for drugs into the United States and provided an opportunity to create an immediate and measurable impact. The success of FRONTIER SHIELD is directly attributable to the synergy of effort from the coalition of interagency and international law enforcement agencies involved in the operation. The results and lessons learned serve as a case study for the value of interdiction.

  • In FY 1998, FRONTIER SHIELD interdiction forces, coupled with cooperation from interagency and international participants, seized over 7,000 pounds of illicit drugs, disrupted 5 deliveries of over 11,000 pounds of drugs, seized 10 smuggling vessels, and arrested 28 trafficking suspects.

  • The multi-mission Coast Guard has traditionally provided a high rate of return to the public. In FY 1997, overall interdiction efforts resulted in a record year for Coast Guard drug seizures. During the year, the Coast Guard seized (or assisted in the seizure of) 103,617 pounds of cocaine and 102,538 pounds of marijuana products. Cocaine seizures easily surpass the previous record set in FY 1991 -- 90,335 pounds.

  • In FY 1998, the Coast Guard continued to see high cocaine seizures, 82,623 pounds of cocaine while total amount of marijuana seized was a modest 31,390 pounds. Smugglers are changing their routes and means of smuggling to avoid interdiction assets stationed in the transit zone.

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1999 National Drug Control Strategy
Budget Summary		 Office of National Drug Control Policy