Delta flight attendants arrested after 'smuggling $8m in drugs loot onto flights from US using security lane trick' | 9AL0319 | 2024-05-11 19:08:01
FOUR flight attendants have been arrested after allegedly smuggling $8 million in drug money out of the country.
The employees, all based in New York, used their positions with Delta Air Lines and other airlines to avoid security checks and get the cash onto flights, according to federal prosecutors.
All four individuals, two of whom worked for Delta, have been named as Charlie Hernandez, 42, Sarah Valerio Pujols, 24, Emmanuel Torres, 34, and Jarol Fabio, 35.
They are each facing charges relating to "unlicensed money transmission" after being arrested on Tuesday, a Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson said, per NBC News.
The complaint alleges that Torres smuggled at least $1.5 million out of the country between 2014 and 2023.
Meanwhile, authorities claim that Fabio got $1.5 million overseas between 2015 and 2023.
Pukols and Hernandez also face conspiracy charges.
Federal authorities said they exploited "their privileges as airline employees" to smuggle "millions of dollars of drug money" out of New York to the Dominican Republic.
"As alleged, these flight attendants smuggled millions of dollars of drug money and law enforcement funds that they thought was drug money from the United States to the Dominican Republic over many years by abusing their privileges as airline employees," US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.
The suspects managed to get the "bulk cash" through security by using the "Known Crewmember (KSM)" lane at John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to prosecutors.
This special security lane allows crewmembers fast access through the airport without being subjected to X-rays and the other security checks passengers have.
In a complaint, a Homeland Security agent claimed that the loosened security procedures allowed the flight attendants to carry out this cash smuggling over several years.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> "In effect, given these loosened security procedures, KCM privileges allow flight attendants to bypass airport security with large quantities of cash without that cash being seized," the complaint states.
The investigation into the flight attendants has "exposed critical vulnerabilities in the airline security industry," a federal official said, per ABC News affiliate WABC.
The official added that it has "illuminated methods that narcotics traffickers are utilizing."
According to the complaint, the suspects were part of an international narcotics trafficking and money laundering operation.
Federal investigators claim that the cash being smuggled was from the sale of narcotics, including fentanyl.
For their alleged role in the money laundering ring, the attendants received a $1,000 to $2,000 cut from every $60,000 they got out of the country, according to prosecutors.
The group of attendants was reportedly tracked down by investigators through an informant.
<!--googleoff: all--> <blockquote class="article__quote"> </blockquote> <!--googleon: all--> The group allegedly smuggled $8 million between 2014 and 2023.
Delta Air Lines confirmed on Wednesday that two of the suspects are employees who have been suspended as an internal review is underway.
The spokesperson for the airline told The U.S. Sun that it "has cooperated fully with law enforcement in this investigation and will continue to do so."
It is still unclear which airlines the other two suspects work for.
They each face felony changes which could land them with up to 10 years in federal prison.
Pujols' attorney confirmed to NBC that she is no longer in custody.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Homeland Security for further comment.
The alleged money smuggling occurred at John F. Kennedy International Airport between 2014 and 2023 (stock image)[/caption]
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