The program was initiated in response to the shift of drug smugglers to Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. The 66 pilots of the interdiction group use P-3 Airborne Early Warning System planes equipped with radar that can spot targets within a range of 250 miles. The P-3's role is to detect and monitor suspects and to coordinate Department of Defense assets. The procedures for tracking suspects include identifying, sorting to confirm suspicion, air tracking, and contacting the nearest aviation unit capable of shadowing the plane until it gets in range of a Black Hawk helicopter. The success of the Customs air crews is indicated by the reduction in the amount of drug-hauling air traffic.