Drone Aircraft Patrolling Texas Coast

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) _ The range of the U.S.-Mexico border patrolled by unmanned aircraft has expanded to the Texas Gulf coast.

Customs and Border Protection on Wednesday announced the start of anti-smuggling drone operations from Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. It will be the future home to the first unmanned aircraft based in Texas.

It comes more than two months after the Federal Aviation Administration approved use of unmanned aircraft along the entire Texas-Mexico border. Previously, drones had been used from El Centro through West Texas.

Agents say the flights are effective in locating immigrant and drug smugglers.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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