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Roma Aerostat Back on the Ground
Posted: Aug 29, 2012 5:36 PM
Updated: Aug 29, 2012 6:28 PM
ROMA - An aerostat is back on the ground after its test phase ended in Starr County.
Border Patrol agents raised the blimp-like aerostat on Aug. 10. The device is designed to help agents detect incursions into the U.S.
The blimp was on a trial basis and officials have not decided if they will buy the equipment from the Department of Defense.
"We did make some arrests. We did have some illegal entries that were detected and were tracked utilizing this technology," U.S. Border Patrol Spokesman Enrique Mendiola said.
"There was some narcotic detection and recoveries as well. We did have some success and that will come out in the after-action reports," he said.
Agents will test the aerostat at least two more times before the evaluation phase is over.
