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malaise

(296,163 posts) Sun Dec 11, 2011, 07:43 PM Dec 2011

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

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.”

49 replies

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Fugging hell -In Bags at J.F.K., Handlers Found Niche for Crime [View all] malaise Dec 2011 OP

I bet this is more rampant than just this case. Something tells me that would be teddy51 Dec 2011 #1

Absolutely - read the entire article malaise Dec 2011 #2

Holy crap, that's quite a read malaise. Certainly doesn't make me want to teddy51 Dec 2011 #3

I haven't flown with them since they forgot to shut BlueToTheBone Dec 2011 #24

For many years, Miami International Airport was the reputed epicenter Blue_Tires Dec 2011 #40

Never put valuables in your checked luggage jberryhill Dec 2011 #4

Everybody should know that, but like everything else there are some very naive teddy51 Dec 2011 #5

Do you ever get the impression that malaise Dec 2011 #12

I never have valuables in checked luggage malaise Dec 2011 #6

The TSA has stolen more from my carry-ons Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #8

How do they steal from your carry -ons? malaise Dec 2011 #10

They take the object they desire and put it in their pocket Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #13

How - don't they check your bag in front of you? malaise Dec 2011 #16

no your bag goes thru an xray device, you go thru a DIFFERENT device or patdown pitohui Dec 2011 #19

have you ever flown before? CreekDog Dec 2011 #26

I traveled up to two weeks ago malaise Dec 2011 #27

we're talking about stealing...do you remember the thread topic you were posting in? CreekDog Dec 2011 #28

Actually, if you are in the scanner and the bag needs a check or re-scan jberryhill Dec 2011 #33

while you're distracted by the patdown, an associate grabs your wallet, etc out of yr carryon pitohui Dec 2011 #18

Makes a good argument for chartering your own wings! gateley Dec 2011 #21

Wow malaise Dec 2011 #22

I can't see how you'd let that happen more than one jberryhill Dec 2011 #23

No, they don't. They cut the lock off. Damage your case? Tough. Don't lock it next time. saras Dec 2011 #30

Sorry, but we are talking about carryon luggage here jberryhill Dec 2011 #32

If they are I have never seen it malaise Dec 2011 #35

I'm not trying to blame the victim here, but Blue_Tires Dec 2011 #41

They let you walk though the metal detector with a cell phone, ipod, prescriptions and wallet? Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #43

I get it now... Blue_Tires Dec 2011 #44

A woman's purse also goes through that scanner and can be checked the way carry-on bags are tblue37 Dec 2011 #46

These assholes have nothing on London Thiefrow Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #7

You do know that airlines deliver misrouted luggage jberryhill Dec 2011 #34

And this is done in beat up Vauxhall Astra's with screaming children in the back Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #37

Wouldn't surprise me jberryhill Dec 2011 #38

I didn't have to, security came on their own Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #39

And that is where the necklace my partner gave me disappeared to Matariki Dec 2011 #9

Any good jewelry I travel with is on me malaise Dec 2011 #11

oh schipol is just as bad pitohui Dec 2011 #20

My Dad lost a camera from his luggage that he packed when leaving the Netherlands AllyCat Dec 2011 #25

What is almost more terrible is the statement putting tuition in the same list of luxuries as AllyCat Dec 2011 #14

Well some of the crooks want tuition fees for their kids malaise Dec 2011 #17

A lesson to be learned. Texasgal Dec 2011 #15

Absolutely. I never check anything if I can help it ProfessionalLeftist Dec 2011 #29

Lots of good reasons to file airline flight with cocaine as a stupid idea that didn't pan out saras Dec 2011 #31

you use to be able to lock your luggage Johonny Dec 2011 #36

See, they were not Too Big To Fail Rex Dec 2011 #42

�Everybody did it.� progressoid Dec 2011 #45

Baggage Handlers make $8 an hour for humping 80 Lb bags all day.... lib2DaBone Dec 2011 #47

It's very hard work but are you suggesting malaise Dec 2011 #48

Meanwhile, in upstate Michigan, a State-licensed MMJ grower is busted. You're going DOWN grandma! Scuba Dec 2011 #49