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TSA screeners busted in drug trafficking probe

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    Feds: Suspected smuggler botched plan by going to wrong terminal at LAX

  • Duration 3:38
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The airport drug smuggling case now we broke this -- -- this story I should say broken this time yesterday.

Today we're learning what tipped off the feds before they charge to current and two former agents of the Transportation Security Administration.

When accepting bribes as high as 2400 bucks to allow suitcases of illegal drugs to pass right through security in LAX.

Court documents shows suspected drug traffickers stuff with a -- -- struck a deal I should say with two TSA workers back in February.

During which they would let him.

Through the screening with ten pounds of cocaine.

But he went to the wrong terminal he -- to terminal five not terminal six a different screener found the drugs and cops arrested the guy.

Will prosecutors say that incident triggered the investigation.

The government takes us on the fears seriously in this case it was narcotics we -- -- make sure that in the next case it's not some other kind of -- The court documents detail five separate incidents and each time we're told the drugs did not reach their final destination.

-- -- now former senior official for the Federal Aviation Administration Scott -- is with us.

He's now -- vice president at the DC firm Gephardt government fears.

Scott nice to -- you.

Alicia you you know they they let some drugs through I guess the bigger concern is bit.

They look the way and that the bad guys could've gotten anything through right.

Sure -- you know again you that criminals are criminals for a reason and this guy thinks he's going to be able to get drugs through.

So his guys are gonna be at the right checkpoints -- -- right time means kind of crazy but.

Again did I think he -- to the wrong terminal or it would work for Florida every document I read he was and still.

If you would to into the right terminal and that he -- got the right guy at the right monitor at the exact time you don't how many checkpoints are now -- do lots of how -- -- but it did I think the bigger issue here -- is you've got to.

Workforce out there that is not very well paid.

They may not be very well trained.

And anytime you have an opportunity to to to transit drugs.

Through an -- or something along those lines -- don't look for that weak link and a lot of times that weak link is who is the lowest paid person in that operation.

Yeah you just use that we're just give him that persons -- and -- away we go.

But absolutely say you couldn't do that with a box cutter or I don't know nine millimeter.

But absolutely and that's where I think we can -- get into you know -- well how -- the background checks going are all these people cleared.

From what I've read a lot of these folks had been with TSA for a little while so those background checks may have been done already and so they were probably current.

But again these guys are making between 25040000.

Dollars a year.

And living in Los Angeles that's not a lot of money.

But is it your sense now realistically speaking that what we've created is this terrific security network for flights -- we've created this this very -- feeling.

Of more security for all of us.

We've really made a gamble here most -- 90% of all resources are going into TSA.

And hopes that we're gonna stop that next terrorist attack.

And I don't really know if that's the best way to do it you know we've created this massive operation.

We're we're paying these people little wages we're not really getting those background checks done as quickly as we can and who knows if these are going to be the right guys to stop what we need.

-- we don't have any idea really do it.

-- unfortunately not been well.

Fund taken issues often it.

And well hopefully we're gonna get that changed a little while we're starting to do it for kids but adults surprise though far off and keep their hands off eliminated new thing -- -- -- No one step at a time chat via one step at a time on the wrong place can be a bad day for everybody the good -- CNN I appreciate it.

Thanks step all right yep yep yep police and.

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