Airline Employees Busted at JFK

Prosecutors Tuesday accused 18 people, including employees of one of the New York area’s busiest airports, of helping to smuggle drugs through the airport.

In its complaint, federal prosecutors said one group of airport workers in the Dominican Republic concealed the drugs in luggage bound for New York, WABC reported Tuesday. In the United States, prosecutors alleged, a second group at John F. Kennedy International Airport retrieved the drug packages and diverted them to a safe area before the bags were inspected.

Authorities said the scheme was uncovered by U.S. customs agents. CNN reported Tuesday’s actions resulted from a two-year investigation and involved employees from American Airlines and Delta.

Federal agents reportedly seized more than 100 pounds of cocaine, 55 pounds of heroin and nearly 7 pounds of ecstasy.

Charges against the suspects include conspiracy to import a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to engage in bulk cash smuggling.