Fugging hell -In Bags at J.F.K., Handlers Found Niche for Crime

[malaise]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/nyregion/cocaine-smuggling-case-shows-airline-baggage-handlers-misconduct.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=jfk%20smuggling%20&st=cse&scp=1
<snip>

When federal investigators announced they had broken up a cocaine-trafficking ring, the crime boss was not a member of a Mexican cartel or the Mafia.

The ringleader was Victor Bourne, a low-wage baggage handler for American Airlines at Kennedy International Airport. And his associates in the enterprise were other airline employees: baggage handlers and crew chiefs who delivered contraband while they delivered luggage to the baggage-claim area.

Their cunning provided luxury watches, cars, tuition for their children and expensive vacations. Now they face prison.

Testimony at Mr. Bourne’s trial in Federal District Court in Brooklyn during September and October revealed a culture of corruption among some baggage handlers at Kennedy. They stowed drugs in secret panels inside planes; stole laptops, lobsters and fine clothing flown as freight; and rifled through passengers’ belongings for perfume, liquor and electronics.

“ ‘Everybody did it.’ That’s a line that a lot of the witnesses said,” recalled Rebecca Grefski, a juror at Mr. Bourne’s trial, part of a case in which 12 American Airlines employees either pleaded guilty or were convicted. “Everybody was doing it.”

[teddy51]

1. I bet this is more rampant than just this case. Something tells me that would be

the perfect job to have for drug trafficking.

[malaise]

2. Absolutely - read the entire article

It is - and has been for decades but everything has changed since 9/11 and with the new airport security, men and women are getting caught across the globe.
gr.

[teddy51]

3. Holy crap, that's quite a read malaise. Certainly doesn't make me want to

fly American Airlines any time soon.

[BlueToTheBone]

24. I haven't flown with them since they forgot to shut

the baggage door and killed all the passengers. Sloppy and careless.

[Blue_Tires]

40. For many years, Miami International Airport was the reputed epicenter

of smuggling, black marketing and a lot else...If you knew the right people to talk to and had the cash, there was nothing in the world you couldn't buy (or so I've heard)

[jberryhill]

4. Never put valuables in your checked luggage

[teddy51]

5. Everybody should know that, but like everything else there are some very naive

people out there. Maybe trusting is another reason, not dreaming that all airline employee's aren't honest.

[malaise]

12. Do you ever get the impression that

everyone is out to rob us and there is very little protection from the vultures?

[malaise]

6. I never have valuables in checked luggage

Don't check electronics either.
Still just imagine if one of these scumbags hides the cocaine in an innocent passenger's luggage.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

8. The TSA has stolen more from my carry-ons

than has ever been stolen from my checked bags.

[malaise]

10. How do they steal from your carry -ons?

Do you mean they take stuff away from you?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

13. They take the object they desire and put it in their pocket

Much as would a shoplifter.

[malaise]

16. How - don't they check your bag in front of you?

<aybe I'mjust lucky or no one wants my trash

[pitohui]

19. no your bag goes thru an xray device, you go thru a DIFFERENT device or patdown

you are separated from your bag every time you go thru security

[CreekDog]

26. have you ever flown before?

the bags go through a machine and it's hard to keep an eye on them when they TSA is scanning, wanding, groping you.

[malaise]

27. I traveled up to two weeks ago

If they see something they do go through your bag

[CreekDog]

28. we're talking about stealing...do you remember the thread topic you were posting in?

[jberryhill]

33. Actually, if you are in the scanner and the bag needs a check or re-scan

They call you over first and ask if it is your bag. They do that so you don't deny it if they find something.

And secondly, the entire area is under multiple video surveillance. It's a dumb place to steal something.

[pitohui]

18. while you're distracted by the patdown, an associate grabs your wallet, etc out of yr carryon

it has happened to me also

when you're traveling solo, you are vulnerable going thru security/x-ray etc. while you can't see your bag, then it's possible for the security personnel to steal goodies out of the bag

it has happened to me, fortunately i put a throwdown wallet with a bunch of ones and fives in it at the top of my carry-on and that's what they stole, the big money was zipped way down and well hidden

i also saw it attempted on another traveler at the same airport and called out, hey, i'm watching your bag [name of traveler], as soon as i said it, the tsa agent who was grabbing stuff from his bag dropped it and took off

it takes at least two agents to work the scam, one to distract/detain, and the other to snitch stuff from the temporarily neglected back

checked bags hold nothing of value, the real loot (electronics, ipods, wallets, jewelry, and other small grabbable goodies) are in the carryons

[gateley]

21. Makes a good argument for chartering your own wings!

Seriously, there's no other way you can be totally protected.

[malaise]

22. Wow

Everyone is trying to rob us

[jberryhill]

23. I can't see how you'd let that happen more than one

My carry-on case locks. If they want to look inside, they can, but they'll need me to open it.

[saras]

30. No, they don't. They cut the lock off. Damage your case? Tough. Don't lock it next time.

Or lock it with a TSA-approved lock that they (or any third-rate criminal) can remove at will.

[jberryhill]

32. Sorry, but we are talking about carryon luggage here

I put in over 70,000 miles on airplanes in the last year.

They are not fiddling with locks in the scanner line.

In the baggage area, sure. But that is not what the context of this subthread is.

[malaise]

35. If they are I have never seen it

There are some unbelievable tales re carry-on luggage on this thread

[Blue_Tires]

41. I'm not trying to blame the victim here, but

You actually put valuables in your carry-on? When I travel they are always on my person (unless it's the rare case of something impractical to have on me)

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

43. They let you walk though the metal detector with a cell phone, ipod, prescriptions and wallet?

[Blue_Tires]

44. I get it now...

I know every case is different, but personally I always double check my gear when putting my shoes on and pulling my pants back up...

In addition:
Cash/Passport/Driver's Lic.--On me
Wallet--Only a couple of cards 'worth' anything and I always double check...

[tblue37]

46. A woman's purse also goes through that scanner and can be checked the way carry-on bags are

Last edited Tue Dec 13, 2011, 01:42 AM - Edit history (2)

checked, and women do put their wallets in their purses! In fact, when they travel, some women leave the purse behind and carry one big bag as both carryon and purse.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

7. These assholes have nothing on London Thiefrow

Waiting for a pickup you can see airport employees wander out with with multiple mismatched suitcases, toss them into waiting cars that take-off and then repeat five minutes later.

[jberryhill]

34. You do know that airlines deliver misrouted luggage

I've had luggage not make a connection, and the airlines deliver it to where you live (or are staying if you are on your outbound leg).

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

37. And this is done in beat up Vauxhall Astra's with screaming children in the back

from the curb of the passenger terminal?

[jberryhill]

38. Wouldn't surprise me

So, to whom did you report your observation of stolen luggage?

The last two times I had luggage delivered, I was, shall we say, surprised by the appearance of the independent contractors, their vehicles, and their disaquaintance with English. That said, they did a fine job.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

39. I didn't have to, security came on their own

[Matariki]

9. And that is where the necklace my partner gave me disappeared to

fuckers.

[malaise]

11. Any good jewelry I travel with is on me

I never check in jewelry. Anything else is in my handbag.

[pitohui]

20. oh schipol is just as bad

i never wear jewelry of value to europe but someone close to me is out a $5K gold bracelet for not listening to this advice

the artful dodger ain't just a nice story, we have violent crime but they have skilled crime and i prefer to let them practice their skills on someone else

[AllyCat]

25. My Dad lost a camera from his luggage that he packed when leaving the Netherlands

Not sure if it was Schipol, but all this makes me realize why I don't fly anymore.

[AllyCat]

14. What is almost more terrible is the statement putting tuition in the same list of luxuries as

cars, watches, and expensive vacations. Friggin' M$M

[malaise]

17. Well some of the crooks want tuition fees for their kids

Some of the IOC folks caught up in the Sal Lake City Olympic scandal also took tuition fees over other gifts.

[Texasgal]

15. A lesson to be learned.

Never check your valuables!

I never do, always bring my laptop, wallet any jewelry with me. Oh, and Prescription eyewear!

[ProfessionalLeftist]

29. Absolutely. I never check anything if I can help it

Last time I did, my suitcase lock had been TWISTED off (it was a standard FAA approved lock) and the zipper pull also twisted/pulled off. It was clear to me someone was impatient and determined to get in there - but nothing was stopping them from doing it correctly ie: via the FAA key for the lock. They just apparently twisted it off with pliers. It was a brand new lock, too.

Nothing was missing but nothing was in there that would interest a thief either.

NEVER AGAIN.

[saras]

31. Lots of good reasons to file airline flight with cocaine as a stupid idea that didn't pan out

[Johonny]

36. you use to be able to lock your luggage

but you know they couldn't trust you

[Rex]

42. See, they were not Too Big To Fail

if so, the govt would be handing out free money checks to them for keeping the economy up and running. So how is that War on Terror...er...War on Drugs working out fer ya!?

[progressoid]

45. ‘Everybody did it.’

Well, that makes it ok then.

[lib2DaBone]

47. Baggage Handlers make $8 an hour for humping 80 Lb bags all day....

So how attractive do you think it is when baggage workers can make an extra $50 bucks letting something illegal go thru?

If you have never crawled on your knees in 100 degree heat in a baggage hold with cockroaches running everywhere while the sweat drips in your eyes and your knees ache and you back screams and your stomach hurts.. but you have to get that aircraft turned around in 20 minutes so the CORPORATION can maintain its profit margin...

You should try it sometime.. then get back to me.....

[malaise]

48. It's very hard work but are you suggesting

that they have the right to do illegal stuff including stealing from people who don't earn that much more.

It's one thing to rob the corporation; it's another to rob average citizens.
Sorry I don't support criminality.

[Scuba]

49. Meanwhile, in upstate Michigan, a State-licensed MMJ grower is busted. You're going DOWN grandma!