"DFW airport worker among dozens busted in DEA raid"

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

DFW airport worker among dozens busted in DEA raid
By Bobbie Terry
KYTX-TV Ch 19 (CBS), Dallas/Fort Worth (TX)
 

DFW AIRPORT - A large drug bust at San Juan Puerto Rico's international
Airport has a North Texas connection.
 
At least 33 people, suspected of smuggling millions of dollars' worth of
drugs aboard commercial flights, were arrested.
 
Here in the United States three other suspects were arrested - including
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport worker Israel Morales-Laureano.
 
Additionally, some 45 arrest warrants were issued, 12 of them targeting
current or former American Airlines employees.
 
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Lila Rico said the workers had
a system for moving millions of dollars in drugs.
 
"They were using their access to the airport, their clearance in the
airport, to smuggle bags, luggage into the airport, with cocaine [inside],"
she explained. "Since they had access, they would then load them [bags] into
commercial airplanes and send them to different airports."
 
Once the bags were transported to another airport a person would simply pick
up the luggage in baggage claim.
 
According to Rico, Morales-Laureano had only just recently transferred to
DFW Airport and committed his alleged transgressions at another location. He
is scheduled to make his initial court appearance at the Earle Cabell
Federal B uilding at 1 p.m.
 
Rico said there's no indication drugs were transported to North Texas. "We
haven't had any cases linking to DFW."
 
Shortly after the announcement American Airlines issued the following
statement - "In cases such as this, American Airlines always assists local,
state and federal law enforcement agencies. Our support also extends to
helping prosecute the individuals responsible to the fullest extent of the
law. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any employee when it comes to this
type of activity. The actions of a few employees should not reflect
negatively on the tens of thousands of ethical American Airlines employees
who work hard to serve our customers each and every day."
 
Drug Enforcement Administration officials said all of the suspects were
members of one of two Puerto Rico-based drug trafficking organizations. The
two drug rings apparently worked together.
 
Half of those arrested were indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act). The other half was indicted for
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
 
Officials say the arrests are a continuation of a September 2009 operation
that targeted nine AA workers accused of participating in the same drug
ring.

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