Life Sentence for Airline Drug Smuggler

An American Airlines baggage handler has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in an international drug trafficking organization. The news, released by U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, came after an intense investigation into the large criminal network that imported more than 150 kilograms of cocaine and other drugs into the United States. All told, the investigation led to the arrest of 19 airline employees, and the seizure of 13 kilograms of cocaine, 2,900 pounds of marijuana, and $6.9 million dollars.

The methods of smuggling were clever but dangerous. Corrupt American Airlines baggage handlers would hide kilos of cocaine inside panels in the plane’s cargo hold—including inside vital equipment panels. Said the U.S. Attorney for the East District of New York, “Using his insider status, [he] turned American Airlines into his personal narcotics shuttle service, running a criminal organization that ignored passenger safety and security in the pursuit of their greater goal—enriching [himself].” The fact is that drug users are directly supporting criminal activity. The good news is that no matter what the drug is, whether it’s cocaine, heroin, prescription pills, marijuana, alcohol, meth, PCP, bath salts, or anything else, the same remedy works the best: a good treatment program at a top-rated facility.

If you or someone you know has a problem with addiction or dependence to drugs, you should seek help now. Thankfully, there is good help available. Detoxification and behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating drug dependence. Addicts are often unable to complete treatment on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to seek the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about drugs, addiction, and treatment.