UA denies involvement in JFK airport drug case
-- applauds baggage handlers' bust
Guyana Chronicle
November 27, 2003
UNIVERSAL Airlines yesterday refuted a Capitol News report that its plane was involved in Tuesday's arrest of 25 baggage handlers at JFK Airport suspected of being part of an illicit drug smuggling ring that spanned Guyana and Jamaica.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents said Tuesday that they began conducting surveillance on flights from Guyana 14 months ago and made the arrests after watching the suspects unload drugs stashed in luggage, cargo and, in one case, under ice in a plane's galley.
Capitol News named plane as belonging to Universal Airlines.
But Universal Airlines official categorically denied the Capitol News story as misinformation.
At the same time, the airline has applauded the "good work" of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the New York/New Jersey Port Authority Police for busting the drug trafficking ring after a 14-month sting operation.
"Universal Airlines would also like to congratulate its crew for their vigilance, honesty and dedication and would like to encourage them to continue to do the wonderful job they have been doing in these trying times," the company said in a statement late yesterday.
Universal Airlines recounted that it is among airlines that have been victimized by "some corrupted employees (and their counterparts) at JFK Airport who are hired to handle the airline's baggage and cargo in New York."
A report out of New York quoted federal officials as saying that the arrested baggage handlers steered tens of millions of dollars in cocaine and marijuana shipments away from inspection checkpoints.
"A network of corrupt airport employees, motivated by greed, might just as well have been collaborating with terrorists as with drug smugglers," said Michael Garcia, acting assistant secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Nearly 900 pounds of cocaine and hundreds of pounds of pot smuggled aboard flights out of Guyana and Jamaica were seized by federal agents during the 14-month investigation. The drugs have a street value of more than $50 million.
Among those arrested was Michael (Big Man) Adams of Queens - a baggage handler for Globe Ground North American, an independent contractor hired by various airlines - who investigators identified as a ringleader.
Another suspect, Gary Lall, also known as "Indian", of Queens, a baggage handler for American Airlines, said in a wiretapped conversation that he was involved in the smuggling operation since 1994, according to the arrest warrant unsealed yesterday in federal court.
Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Roslynn Mauskopf called the scheme a "classic inside job."
"Their status as airline employees gave them unfettered access, unlimited opportunity and the ability to act with virtual impunity," Mauskopf said.
A spokeswoman for American Airlines, which employed seven of the rogue baggage handlers, said the company is cooperating in the investigation.
Apart from Adams and Lall, those charged are: Erroldo Weatherly, also known as "Junior" and "Dapper;" Tyrone Browne, also known as "T;" Errol Small; Junior Barnett; Gladstone Blair; Michael Erskine; Teron Foster, also known as "Ron;" Mark Gauntlett; Cleveland Green; Priestly Green; Anthony Gulston; Julio Marino; Lloyd Mckend; Richard Pitcher, also known as "Rags;" Dennis Johnson; Junior Robinson; Rafael Rodriguez; Mark Sandy; Selwyn Smith; Stephenson Watson; Gladstone Whyte; Michael Williams and Eglan Younge.
The 25 defendants are charged with conspiracy to import narcotics and face up to life in prison and a $4 million fine, federal officials said.
Universal Airlines says that it considers safety and security of paramount importance and has always cooperated and facilitated law enforcement authorities in all counties and will continue to do so, with the hope to prevent smuggling and corruption and to promote better border security and safer air travel.