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Aerial view of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. On
Tuesday, U.S. attorneys announced that 10 people were indicted for
attempting to smuggle 66 kilograms of methamphetamine through the
airport. Photo courtesy of DFW International Airport
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By Ray Downs, UPI
Ten employees for companies working in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were indicted for allegedly attempting to smuggle methamphetamine drugs through the airport, U.S. attorneys announced Tuesday.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Texas, undercover FBI agents approached the defendants in August 2016 with counterfeit methamphetamine drugs and asked for the substance to be transported through the DFW Airport. The defendants then arranged for the transportation and delivery of what they believed to be 66 kilograms of methamphetamine.
"The defendants utilized their position of employment with companies at DFW Airport to bypass security measures and in return, they accepted payment for the transportation and delivery of the counterfeit drugs," prosecutors said in a statement. "The defendants would also act as 'look-outs' or engage in counter-surveillance to undermine police presence."
The plan was to get the drugs to several airports throughout the United States, including Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina and Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix
One of the defendants also offered to smuggle guns through the airport for a higher fee, prosecutors said.
The defendants named in the indictment include Nelson Pabon, 47, Jean Loui Vargas-Malave, 28, Juan Camacho Melendez, 22, Ruben Benitez-Matienzo, 45, Jose Luis Gaston-Rolon, 24, Joshua Israel Pagan Zapata, 21, Domingo Villafane Martinez, III, 30, Luis Javier Collazo Rosado, 21, Michael LNU, 23, and Cristian David Cruz-Rodriguez, 23.
Each person was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a schedule II controlled substance.
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