 (UPI) -- A drug-sniffing dog tipped federal agents to 130 pounds of cocaine in three duffel bags at Philadelphia International Airport, officials said Wednesday.
The 52 bricks of cocaine were discovered after passengers arriving Sunday on a flight from the Dominican Republic had picked up their bags, KYW-TV, Philadelphia, reported. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Steve Sapp said the seizure was the largest in the history of the airport, and more than twice the size of the previous big haul, 55 pounds seized in 2000.
No one had been arrested late Wednesday, and investigators were unsure why the cocaine had been sent to Philadelphia.
"We do know that narcotics networks do tend to probe, trying to find out where they can get their narcotics through," Sapp said. "This is a rather large cocaine shipment for just a simple probe, but we don't know. That is all part of the investigation. We are hoping to find out why."
Update:
US agents probe local pars on 130 pounds of cocaine seized in Philadelphia
DominicanToday.com – Dominican Antinarcotics (DNCD) agents assigned to the Las Americas Airport International are being investigated in the heels of 130 pounds of cocaine seized in Philadelphia International Airport, reportedly sent from Santo Domingo’s terminal.
United States Drug Enforcement (DEA) agents began investigations into the confiscation today Monday, after the United States Immigration Department reported that on Saturday, January 7 three bags left on board U.S. Airways flight 1068 flight from Santo Domingo, which turned out to be 52 packages of cocaine.
The airline asked the DEA to investigate because that day’s flight was directed by DNCD personnel in AILA, who allegedly removed the flight’s private security personnel, and replaced with Antinarcotics AGency officers.
The arrival of US antinarcotics agents as well as U.S. Airways security guards has created surprise in the terminal where videos have been requested that apparently were erased, for which that day’s operation wasn’t recorded.
The DEA agents met with the carrier’s executives in Philadelphia, before traveling to Santo Domingo where they continue the investigation.
U.S. Airways managers said the DNCD agents assumed the plane’s security that day, in an operation they affirm included a search of the passengers and their luggage and used trained dogs, which caused a nearly half an hour delay in its departure, from 3:11pm to 3:37pm.
The situation has prompted the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to fine U.S. Airways 2.0 million dollars, for transporting the drug on board its aircraft.
Dominican Watchdog Note: Now this story starte to make sense. Of course some corrupt DNCD agents was behind the shipment to USA. However how can the airline be held responsiable when all their security was replaced. I suggest foreign airlines operating in and out of the DR send these fines on to the Domincian government or simply stop flying to there!!!
Comments from local newspaper:
Written by: Juango, 16 Jan 2012 3:23 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Not good news for the DR. This confirms that some of the AILA staff &/or DNCD are obviously involved in drug trafficking. Could this possibly lead to a suspension of US carriers from servicing the DR for security reasons, by the US government? If these fools can get 3 bags aboard with 130 lb of drugs, why can't they smuggle 10-50 lb of explosives ! I see it as a major security breach.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
Juamgo yes you have hit it on the nail,,this was a very deliberate but rather stupid operation because there are just two many easy clues ,,,but why do we not know the name of the passenger who checked the bags in . all the anti nacotics people on duty for that plane need to be put through the third degree ,,,Videos erased for the day , security changed for a drugs plane ...it seems all too easy and it seems US Airways was a very innocent victim in all this
From: United States
Easy to see who was involved since the evidence on this side was erased. The US should just say no flights or boats can enter the US from the Dominican Republic using their corrupt security. If they do no want to use real security all flights stop. Once the US does it plenty of other countries will follow. Fining the airline will do nothing since they have no control over it.
Find the DNCD they have plenty of money and are clearly involved.
Hope this case opens up a can of worms internationally.
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