U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations

What U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations does

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO) is the aviation and maritime interdiction component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security established on March 1, 2003. AMO conducts aerial surveillance, maritime interdiction, counter-narcotics operations, and search and rescue across U.S. airspace and waterways, operating from bases including the Air and Marine Operations Center at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California, established in 1988 and expanded after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The component supports U.S. Border Patrol ground operations and coordinates with international customs partners through the Container Security Initiative, with personnel stationed in locations such as Singapore. As of the available data, AMO employs fewer than 2,000 personnel, including approximately 200 Special Response Team operators, 115 EMTs, and tactical medics.

CBP AMO's technology stack includes AI-enabled autonomous surveillance towers (33 feet tall, with radar and day/night cameras covering approximately a three-mile radius), facial biometrics for traveler verification, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) electronic trade platform, non-intrusive inspection systems, and more than 1,500 K-9 teams. The agency processes over one million travelers daily, enables approximately $10 billion in imported goods daily, collected over $216 billion in trade revenue in fiscal year 2025, and performs nearly 6,000 rescues and significant medical lifesaving responses annually. AI capabilities are operationalized in production-critical functions: computer vision in surveillance towers, anomaly detection and predictive analytics in trade targeting, and biometric identity verification across travel processing environments.

CBP AMO is funded entirely through congressional appropriations as a federal agency component and does not generate commercial revenue; the $216 billion in FY2025 trade revenue represents duties, taxes, and fees collected on behalf of the U.S. Treasury, making CBP the federal government's second-largest revenue-generating agency after the IRS. Its service recipients are the American public, international travelers, trade and commerce entities, and partner government agencies including U.S. Border Patrol, FEMA, and international counterparts such as the Mexican Military and Korean Customs Service. Pricing is non-commercial for core border security services, with select fee-based Trusted Traveler Programs (Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) representing the only direct user charges.

Name

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations

Legal name

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Website

https://cbp.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CBP Air and Marine Operations is the aviation and maritime interdiction component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, providing aerial surveillance, maritime enforcement, counter-narcotics operations, and search and rescue across U.S. airspace and waterways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Federal Border Security and Law Enforcement Services

NAICS

National Security (928110)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Harbor & Coastal Patrol / Waterborne Security (BPAKALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Maritime Security Technology & Surveillance Systems (CCTV, Radar, AIS, Perimeter Intrusion) (TLAHANAC)

Keywords

• Border security
• Air and marine operations
• Counter-narcotics interdiction
• Search and rescue
• Customs enforcement

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, D.C.

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Trade Revenue Collection: CBP collects duties, taxes, and fees on imported goods. In fiscal year 2025, CBP collected over $216 billion in total trade revenue, making it the federal government's second-largest revenue-generating agency after the IRS.
2. User Fee Collections: CBP collects fees for services such as Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and other Trusted Traveler Programs.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CBP Air and Marine Operations is the federal component that conducts aviation and maritime law enforcement to secure U.S. borders and waterways. AMO provides aerial surveillance, maritime interdiction, counter-narcotics operations, airspace control, and search and rescue support across the United States and in international locations through the Container Security Initiative. Core outputs also include enabling the wider CBP mission of processing more than 1 million travelers daily, facilitating over $10 billion in imported goods per day, and supporting partner federal, state, local, and foreign agencies in border security, emergency response, and trade enforcement.

Product overview

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security comprising multiple operational components: U.S. Border Patrol, Office of Field Operations, Air and Marine Operations, and Office of Trade. CBP offers a portfolio of trusted traveler programs (Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) that provide expedited processing for pre-approved travelers; travel document systems (ESTA, I-94, Mobile Passport Control) for entry authorization and tracking; trade facilitation platforms (Automated Commercial Environment) for electronic import/export processing; mobile applications (CBP Link, CBP Home); and AI-enabled autonomous surveillance technology for border security. Air and Marine Operations specifically provides aerial and maritime domain awareness, interdiction, and search and rescue capabilities. The agency processes over one million travelers daily and enables $10 billion in imported goods while enforcing border security, trade compliance, and revenue collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Air and Marine Operations (AMO): CBP component responsible for air and marine interdiction, surveillance, and rescue operations.
• Border Patrol
• Office of Field Operations
• Office of Trade

Products and services

• Global Entry A CBP Trusted Traveler Program that provides expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the United States through automated kiosks at major airports.
• TSA PreCheck A Trusted Traveler Program providing expedited security screening at participating U.S. airport checkpoints for pre-approved travelers.
• NEXUS A joint Canada-U.S. Trusted Traveler Program providing expedited border crossing for pre-approved travelers between Canada and the United States.
• SENTRI A Trusted Traveler Program providing expedited border crossing for pre-approved travelers entering the U.S. from Mexico via land or sea ports of entry.
• FAST (Free and Secure Trade) A Trusted Traveler Program for commercial truck drivers providing expedited border crossing at land ports of entry between the U.S. and Canada/Mexico.
• Mobile Passport Control A mobile application allowing U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors to submit passport and customs declaration information electronically to CBP before arrival at U.S. ports of entry.
• ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) An automated electronic system used to determine eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.
• I-94 Record An electronic system providing travelers with admission records, including arrival/departure information, visa type, and port of entry details.
• CBP Link Mobile Application A mobile application providing CBP employees and stakeholders with operational information and resources.
• CBP Home Mobile Application A mobile application providing CBP-related information and services accessible to travelers and the public.
• Autonomous Surveillance Towers AI-powered 33-foot surveillance towers equipped with radar, day/night cameras, and artificial intelligence that autonomously detect, identify, and track people and vehicles within approximately three miles, alerting field agents via mobile devices. Approximately 200 towers are planned for deployment, with 60 already in initial testing locations in Texas and Southern California.
• Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) CBP's primary electronic system for processing import and export data, enabling businesses to electronically transmit data required by the U.S. government for international trade.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $216 billion in trade revenue collected in fiscal year 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• Mexican MilitarynotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2026U.S. Border Patrol and multiple federal agencies conducted a joint show of force with Mexican military counterparts in El Paso to signal increased border security and target the Juárez Cartel. The operation involved armored vehicles, helicopters, and horses.
• Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid ActionnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Coast Guard and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action aircrews conducted a rescue operation for three CBP marine interdiction agents and two boaters off Isla de Cabras in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
• Korean Customs ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean Customs Service requested assistance from CBP's Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center to determine if two Korean manufacturers were engaged in trade fraud. CBP import specialists compared documents and provided evidence leading to arrests for violating the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
• Container Security Initiative Partner NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBP's Container Security Initiative operates globally with partner customs administrations to identify and pre-screen high-risk containers before they are shipped to the U.S. Officers are stationed in Singapore and other major ports worldwide to extend CBP's enforcement reach and combat transshipment fraud.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBP special response teams and Border Patrol agents support FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams during national emergencies including hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding.
• Mexican Guardia NacionalnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated patrol operations with Mexican Guardia Nacional (equivalent of U.S. Border Patrol) to conduct simultaneous patrols on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, enabling prosecution of illegal aliens on the Mexican side.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• U.S. Coast Guard: The U.S. Coast Guard operates maritime security, interdiction, aviation, and search-and-rescue missions under federal authority. Its combination of air and marine assets closely parallels Air and Marine Operations' operational model.
• U.S. Border Patrol: U.S. Border Patrol is a CBP component responsible for terrestrial border enforcement and receives air support from Air and Marine Operations. It is a direct operational counterpart within the same parent organization.
• Australian Border Force: Australian Border Force combines customs, border protection, immigration enforcement, and maritime security under one national agency. Its integrated land, air, and maritime border responsibilities make it a close international analogue.
• Canada Border Services Agency: The Canada Border Services Agency is a national border and customs organization responsible for law enforcement, immigration enforcement, trade compliance, and interdiction. Its integrated border-security mandate is closely comparable to CBP Air and Marine Operations.
• UK Border Force: UK Border Force is a national law-enforcement organization responsible for border security, customs controls, immigration enforcement, and maritime interdiction. It is directly comparable in mission, although it does not operate an aviation arm equivalent to AMO.
• Japan Customs: Japan Customs is responsible for customs enforcement, trade compliance, contraband interdiction, and border security. It offers a direct institutional comparison in customs authority and risk-based cargo screening, but has less overlap with AMO's U.S. aviation mission.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: CBP is Air and Marine Operations' parent agency and operates a broader border-security, customs, travel-processing, and trade-enforcement portfolio. It provides the closest structural benchmark for the scale, funding, and technology environment surrounding AMO.
• European Border and Coast Guard Agency: Frontex coordinates border surveillance, risk analysis, and coast-guard functions across European Union member states. It is comparable in multinational border security and surveillance, though its operating model is supranational coordination rather than direct U.S.-style aviation and marine enforcement.
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: ICE is a large U.S. federal law-enforcement agency with national-security, customs-related enforcement, investigations, and intelligence functions. It is comparable at the institutional and mission level, although it does not specialize in Air and Marine Operations' aviation and maritime model.
• Transportation Security Administration: TSA operates national aviation-security, passenger-screening, identity-verification, and security-technology programs for the United States. It is relevant for its use of biometric screening and airport security infrastructure, but its primary mission is narrower than AMO's combined air and marine operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cbp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVRj-aUsXBrlM8elk3zmLvw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CBPgov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/customs-and-border-protection
• Instagraminstagram.com/cbpgov

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations