Fairbanks International Airport Police Racking Up Alcohol and Drug Seizures

February 16, 2004

Airport Police Racking Up Alcohol and Drug Seizures
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK

Fairbanks International Airport Police have seen an
increase in finding illegal drugs and alcohol in air
travelers' baggage since security has been beefed up
after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Transportation Security Administration, a new
department formed after the attacks to screen
passengers and luggage, report illegal contraband they
find during their security searches to the airport
police.

"That stuff shows up a little bit more," said Lt. Bob
Segla, of the airport police. 

In January, airport police confiscated more than 53
liters of illegal alcohol and more than 42 grams of
cocaine, according to an airport police log. In
December 2003 airport police took more than 38,000
milliliters of illegal alcohol, more than 140 grams of
marijuana and about five grams of cocaine. 

Several pipes containing marijuana resin were also
taken during the two-month time period. All the
contraband was destroyed or held as evidence, Segla
said.  

Much of the alcohol was in route to villages that have
bans or limits on alcohol imports. In those cases
someone from the commuter airlines would report those
finds. 

"If we run into something we'll call," said Art
Warbelow, owner of Warbelow's Air Ventures. 

"If we knowingly transport drugs or alcohol they could
seize our airplanes. We would never transport
anything."

However, some of the alcohol was reported by TSA when
they found the items while searching commercial
airline passengers or their luggage. 

Most people don't know there is a law that restricts
the amount of alcohol airplane, ship or train
passengers may carry with them while traveling because
it could be hazardous, Segla said. The limit is one
liter of distilled spirits, two liters of wine and one
gallon of beer, he said. 

"A twelve pack (of beer) would be more than a gallon,"
Segla said.

Kim Ellard, TSA assistant federal security director,
said their mission is to be on the lookout for
terrorist activity. It's not to arrest people for
having illegal substances, he said.

"It's turned over to law enforcement," Ellard said.

Officer Mike Suter, of the airport police, said that
the department has just started to keep a closer tally
on the number of incidences involving alcohol and drug
seizures.

"We're trying to knock down the amount of drugs and
alcohol that go into the villages," he said. Keeping
track may help the airport police get help in the
future, he said.

"We're building statistics," he said.


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