Marijuana Prohibition began in the 1930’s which caused cross border smuggling operations to ensue. With the potential benefit of the substance and its legality, the opportunity to profit from smuggling this plant into the States was immense. The Columbus Air Force was the first documented cross-border marijuana smuggling operation via aircraft that was intercepted by the Drug Enforcement Agency in 1973. Were these men visionaries or hardened criminals?
Welcome To Prohibition!
During the 30’s, marijuana was highly criticized and was formally outlawed in 1937. While many people used marijuana for many reasons, this was highly forbidden and stigmatized with movies like Reefer Madness and other government anti-pot propaganda. To this day, marijuana remains federally illegal at all levels while some states have legalized recreational and medical use along with cultivation.
When the cannabis prohibition occurred, many people were left scrambling which left no choice but to smuggle it from another country (Mexico) which provided an immense market for marijuana. Prohibition meant smuggling cannabis in the United States was highly illegal, which in turn made it highly profitable.
The Columbus Air Force
The Columbus Air Force was the name for a group of pilots involved in smuggling marijuana into the United States in the 1960s and early 1970s. The smuggling group was based out of the small village of Columbus, New Mexico next to the Mexican border. These men were reportedly the first pilots to transport marijuana across the Mexican border by small aircraft.
Ironically, the run way area this group of pilots used to land on in the middle of the night is now owned by the United States Customs Service and was later the site of a RADAR-equipped aerostat balloon, used to detect drug trafficking. This smuggling operation marked a pivotal moment for drug smuggling, the United States, and its border with Mexico.
Operation Sky Night
On a chilly October night in 1973, Columbus Day to be specific, the Drug Enforcement Agency led Operation Sky Night. This was the federal/state joint operation to bust these 5 marijuana toting pilots in Columbus, New Mexico. The Columbus Air Force loaded up on marijuana in central Mexico. The men took off from a dry lake bed in 3 single engine Cessna’s toting over 2900 pounds of cannabis. The pilots made their way back to the United States and were intercepted by the feds in Columbus, New Mexico. This operation led the way in marijuana smuggling history from Mexico while also closing the door on other aircraft smuggling operations.
The Columbus Air Force may have opened federal agencies eyes to the potential of drug toting aircrafts. However, with marijuana legalization on the horizon for several states, it is perceived that this group of men were marijuana visionaries, not hardened criminals.
