18 Charged in JFK Airport Drug Smuggling Scheme

According to a press release from the Drug Enforcement Agency, 18 people have been charged in connection with an international drug smuggling scheme centered around JFK airport. 10 of the people charged are employees at the airport.

The scheme allegedly involved smuggling and distribution of heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy also known as MDMA. The scheme also involved bulk smuggling of United States Currency.

The Justice Department alleges that the ten employees participated in a drug smuggling and distribution organization headed by Henry Polanco. The organization conspired to smuggle drugs into the United States from Polanco's contacts in the Dominican Republic. These contacts supplied heroin, cocaine and ecstasy.

The scheme depended on airline employees from JFK airport, and from abroad that were willing to smuggle drugs into the United States. The employees allegedly smuggled the drugs aboard planes, and moved the drugs before customs officials could intercept them. The employees then gave the drugs to other members of the organization for distribution. The defendants are also accused of smuggling large amounts of United States currency to the Dominican Republic, presumably as payment for the drugs.

Members of the Drug Enforcement Agency worked alongside members of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE"), Customs and Border Protection, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The charges brought are the result of a two year long investigation.

The agencies used court-ordered wiretaps to monitor the suspects. A major break came in the case when authorities use of wiretaps alerted them to the imminent arrival of one of the organization's members at the airport. Authorities intercepted the suspect and apprehended him. The suspect was in possession of a suitcase containing 10 kilograms of cocaine and two kilograms of heroin.

Drug Enforcement Agency Officials reportedly seized over 46 kilograms of cocaine, 25 kilograms of heroin, and 3 kilograms of MDMA (ecstasy) over the course of the investigation.