Since 1989, the Florida Counterdrug Program has provided counterdrug ground reconnaissance assets at no cost to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the State of Florida. Recently Counterdrug Operational Detachment Alpha (CDODA) changed their name to the Florida Ground Reconnaissance Team (GRT) in order to present a more complete description to our law enforcement partners.
The GRT is comprised of 20 highly trained personnel, forming three six man teams with a two man command and control element. Specializing in rural and urban reconnaissance and observation, the GRT utilizes video and digital photography, remote camera systems, day and night observation devices, and secure communications in order to secure documentation of suspected illicit drug activity for our law enforcement customers. While primarily a ground reconnaissance element, the GRT also specializes in counterdrug underwater dive operations to combat the smuggling of illegal drugs attached to the hulls of ships arriving at any number of Florida’s ports.
During Fiscal Year 2010, the GRT conducted more than 310 man-days on over 20 counterdrug missions for numerous Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) across the State. These missions served the residents of Florida by leading to the arrests of 30 criminals, the seizures of over 1,500 marijuana plants, and over $3.3 million in illicit drug money and assets seized. In one request alone, the GRT provided critical observation on an indoor marijuana grow investigation that lead to the seizure of 14 houses, 17 arrests, 1024 marijuana plants, 69 pounds of processed marijuana, $27,000 in illicit proceeds, nine vehicles, and five firearms. In another request, the GRT was instrumental in locating an underground marijuana grow operation that consisted of three individual 10-ft. x 20-ft. grow rooms and a sophisticated power diversion and distribution control room equipped with a 150 kilowatt diesel generator and a stairwell. This clandestine operation was concealed under a metal barn structure and accessed by a hidden trap door. The site would not have been located without the help of the GRT.
The GRT is an integral tool for law enforcement deployed in the State of Florida’s fight against the illicit drug trade which continues to plague our country.