More than 20 airport workers, including several American Airlines employees, have been indicted for involvement in a well-orchestrated cocaine smuggling ring at Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín Airport.
Prosecutors allege American Airlines employees put tags on bags that indicates they were screened by TSA agents when they were not, while other airline workers used their free cargo shipping privileges to send cocaine to the US.
A total of 26 people were involved including Southwest Airlines’ staff members, cleaning service employees and airport restaurant workers, said US Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez.
"Today we have brought their operations to a grinding halt," she said.
Several other methods were used to smuggle the cocaine through the airport including bag drops to waiting drugs mules inside bathrooms.
Planes flying to New York, Miami, Philadelphia and Orlando were used.
Authorities said the airport was the largest drug distribution center in the Caribbean.
According to the AP, other items were seized during dawn raids at the suspects’ homes including jewelry and a live tiger that the alleged ring leader had as a pet.
American Airliness said it has been cooperating fully with investigaators.
The latest operation comes just a few months after a dozen TSA agents and airport workers were indicted in connection with a 18-year long cocaine smuggling operation at the airport.
