Back in 1984, the design for an ultra-sensitive U.S. Customs radio network was conceived. Code-named COTHEN, Customs Over The Horizon Enforcement Network, it combines a radio, computer, and a tactical voice privacy unit into a state-of-the-art communications system that meets the demanding requirements of Customs' tactical interdiction aircraft and boats in their fight against smuggling activities.

COTHEN's first fixed station transmitter near Memphis, Tenn., became operational in 1985. The Blue Lightning Operations Center was the first command office and its marine vessels were the first tactical platforms to have COTHEN radios. This initial deployment proved so successful that COTHEN grew to include all U.S. Customs aircraft.

High powered fixed station transmitters located across the United States are connected to Customs' Air, Marine, and Special Agent In Charge (SAIC) locations via dedicated telephone lines. Tactical interdiction platforms that are equipped with a COTHEN radio can place a call to any other platform or office in the network. Thanks to innovative technological advancements, a COTHEN radio is able to establish a link with another COTHEN radio thousands of miles away with no more difficulty than placing a phone call.

COTHEN has been instrumental in helping law enforcement agencies successfully complete a number of missions. For instance, early last year off the coast of Puerto Rico, COTHEN played a primary role in impressive seizures of 1,169 kilos of cocaine, one boat, three smugglers, and 41 illegal aliens by making sure all the entities involved in the action remained in contact with each other.

COTHEN now provides communications support for more than 235 aircraft, marine interdiction vessels, command offices, and numerous allied agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, Border Patrol, Army, Navy, and Joint Interagency Task Forces. COTHEN's Technical Service Center (TSC) provides real-time on-the-air support services and guarantees communications between users. The Telecommunications Specialists who operate the TSC have many innovative diagnostic tools used to ensure communications, including a telephone patch (TRICS), a platform tracking and location system (TRACS), and over-the-air-rekeying capabilities (DARK).

The COTHEN and TSC team, responsible for all program management and on-the-air technical support, is headquartered at the Communication Management Division's National Law Enforcement Communications Center in Orlando, Fla.