Airline staff can get entry to safe areas with out having to undergo safety, and at occasions that’s not used for good. Right here’s the newest such case, as reported by Paddle Your Personal Kanoo.
Flight attendant makes an attempt to smuggle fentanyl
On October 4, 2022, an off-duty flight attendant tried to enter the safe space of San Diego Airport (SAN) with fentanyl, whereas making an attempt to journey as a non-rev to Boston Airport (BOS). Particularly, this flight attendant labored for Mesa Airways, a regional airline that operates flights on behalf of American Airways and United Airways.
This flight attendant was a “Recognized Crew Member” (KCM), permitting her to bypass the usual safety screening course of. This can be a customary function that flight attendants and pilots can sign-up for. Nevertheless, staff are typically chosen for TSA’s Unpredictable Screening Procedures (USP), in order that they nonetheless need to be screened.
This flight attendant was chosen to be screened on this event, and that wasn’t excellent news for her. She alarmed the stroll via steel detector, and consequently needed to undergo the complete physique scanner with Superior Imaging Know-how (AIT). The incident report notes that she “initially appeared hesitant to enter the AIT after which was shaking when she was standing nonetheless inside the AIT.”
She was then despatched to a non-public room for extra screening. Throughout this screening, the flight attendant eliminated “a big mass that was wrapped round her stomach.” At this level the Harbor Police Division and Drug Enforcement Company acquired concerned. A narcotic detection canine alerted to the mass.
The flight attendant’s protection for this
Whereas being questioned, the flight attendant claimed that the big mass was “not what you suppose.” Her protection was that her co-worker gave her a “mercury pack” to put on for weight reduction. Proper.
A pattern of the substance contained within the bundle examined constructive for the traits of fentanyl. The bundle had a weight 1.51 kilograms, or 3.33 kilos. The flight attendant was instantly arrested, and has been charged with possession of a managed substance with intent to distribute.
She has now been launched on bail, and has been fired by Mesa Airways. One definitely has to marvel what number of occasions she (and different flight attendants) have efficiently smuggled fentanyl with out getting caught. In any case, it was solely as a result of a random screening choice that she was searched, and that solely occurs a small share of the time.
Fentanyl deaths have change into more and more frequent lately, and smugglers have gotten extra inventive with how they transport medication. For instance, 12,000 fentanyl drugs had been just lately seized at an LAX safety checkpoint, because the traveler with them fled the scene.
Backside line
A (now former) flight attendant has been arrested for making an attempt to fly with over three kilos of fentanyl. As a “Recognized Crew Member,” this was an worker who didn’t ordinarily need to undergo safety. Nevertheless, she was randomly chosen on this event, and a wierd mass was detected on her physique. She has now been charged with possession of a managed substance with intent to distribute.
What do you make of this case?
