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Gun-Smuggling Spurs Air Staff Screening
NewsMax.com Wires Wednesday, March 14, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Transportation Security Administration stepped up
security at airports around Florida on Tuesday, days after baggage handlers
in Orlando were accused of smuggled guns aboard a commercial airliner.
More than 160 security officers, aviation inspectors, federal air marshals
and others were being dispatched to airports in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Fort
Lauderdale and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The officers will be in place for a
few days before rotating to other airports, officials said.
TSA and airport security procedures were criticized last week after law
enforcers arrested four people in a suspected smuggling ring that is
believed to have bypassed security at Orlando International Airport to send
guns and drugs to Puerto Rico.
Two airline baggage handlers are accused of using their employee uniforms
and airport identification cards to enter restricted areas and avoid
security screeners. Handguns and an assault rifle were found in a carry-on
bag seized by authorities.
The airport has begun screening employees for at least a few days as a first
step, spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said, adding that officials still aren't
sure what else they will do, or when.
"We will have to look at our budget and find the money," she said. "It may
mean we will not do some projects that are planned or previously budgeted
for. It is very important that we have confidence in the systems here."
Miami International Airport began screening employees in 1999 after drug
smuggling there, spokesman Marc Henderson said.
Other airports rely on pre-hiring background checks and random physical
searches, both self-conducted and those done by TSA.
Gun-Smuggling Spurs Air Staff Screening
NewsMax.com Wires Wednesday, March 14, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Transportation Security Administration stepped up
security at airports around Florida on Tuesday, days after baggage handlers
in Orlando were accused of smuggled guns aboard a commercial airliner.
More than 160 security officers, aviation inspectors, federal air marshals
and others were being dispatched to airports in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Fort
Lauderdale and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The officers will be in place for a
few days before rotating to other airports, officials said.
TSA and airport security procedures were criticized last week after law
enforcers arrested four people in a suspected smuggling ring that is
believed to have bypassed security at Orlando International Airport to send
guns and drugs to Puerto Rico.
Two airline baggage handlers are accused of using their employee uniforms
and airport identification cards to enter restricted areas and avoid
security screeners. Handguns and an assault rifle were found in a carry-on
bag seized by authorities.
The airport has begun screening employees for at least a few days as a first
step, spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said, adding that officials still aren't
sure what else they will do, or when.
"We will have to look at our budget and find the money," she said. "It may
mean we will not do some projects that are planned or previously budgeted
for. It is very important that we have confidence in the systems here."
Miami International Airport began screening employees in 1999 after drug
smuggling there, spokesman Marc Henderson said.
Other airports rely on pre-hiring background checks and random physical
searches, both self-conducted and those done by TSA.
