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CNN Live At Daybreak
Dozens Held in JFK Drug Smuggling Investigation
Aired November 26, 2003 - 05:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: More than two dozen men are in federal custody, suspected of using their airport jobs to import illegal drugs.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick has our story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Prosecutors say 20 baggage and cargo handlers at JFK Airport, all with security clearance, were able to bypass Customs inspections and smuggle what they call huge quantities of cocaine and marijuana into New York.
ROSLYNN MAUSKOPF, U.S. ATTORNEY: Their status gave them unrestricted access to international passenger and cargo flights, where they were able to take possession of large shipments of narcotics.
FEYERICK: Justice officials say the drugs were shipped mainly from Jamaica and Guyana, South America, hidden inside marked suitcases and cargo boxes.
MAUSKOPF: Once the drugs arrived in the United States, the defendants, two of whom were supervisors of the baggage and cargo handlers here at JFK, were able to manipulate the assignments of the ground crew that met these flights to ensure that members of the conspiracy would be responsible for unloading the flight's cargo.
FEYERICK: Prosecutors say the corrupt workers snuck the drugs out of the airport, adding one cocaine shipment seized in September had a street value of $23 million. Homeland security officials acknowledge the smuggling points to a serious vulnerability in airport security.
MICHAEL GARCIA, IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: When you have airport workers, as the U.S. attorney described, who have badges, who have access to secure facilities in the airport, who know where the surveillance cameras are and know how to avoid those types of detection mechanisms, then you have a vulnerability.
FEYERICK: Some of the 25 suspects in custody worked for major airlines like American and United. Most worked for contractors hired by JFK Airport. Several suspects were based out of Miami International.
(on camera): The smuggling ring was discovered about a year ago. Since then, more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine and marijuana have been confiscated. Officials believe the smuggling may have been going on for as long as a decade.
Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 26, 2003 - 05:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: More than two dozen men are in federal custody, suspected of using their airport jobs to import illegal drugs.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick has our story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Prosecutors say 20 baggage and cargo handlers at JFK Airport, all with security clearance, were able to bypass Customs inspections and smuggle what they call huge quantities of cocaine and marijuana into New York.
ROSLYNN MAUSKOPF, U.S. ATTORNEY: Their status gave them unrestricted access to international passenger and cargo flights, where they were able to take possession of large shipments of narcotics.
FEYERICK: Justice officials say the drugs were shipped mainly from Jamaica and Guyana, South America, hidden inside marked suitcases and cargo boxes.
MAUSKOPF: Once the drugs arrived in the United States, the defendants, two of whom were supervisors of the baggage and cargo handlers here at JFK, were able to manipulate the assignments of the ground crew that met these flights to ensure that members of the conspiracy would be responsible for unloading the flight's cargo.
FEYERICK: Prosecutors say the corrupt workers snuck the drugs out of the airport, adding one cocaine shipment seized in September had a street value of $23 million. Homeland security officials acknowledge the smuggling points to a serious vulnerability in airport security.
MICHAEL GARCIA, IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: When you have airport workers, as the U.S. attorney described, who have badges, who have access to secure facilities in the airport, who know where the surveillance cameras are and know how to avoid those types of detection mechanisms, then you have a vulnerability.
FEYERICK: Some of the 25 suspects in custody worked for major airlines like American and United. Most worked for contractors hired by JFK Airport. Several suspects were based out of Miami International.
(on camera): The smuggling ring was discovered about a year ago. Since then, more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine and marijuana have been confiscated. Officials believe the smuggling may have been going on for as long as a decade.
Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
