34 INDICTED IN ALLEGED DRUG-SMUGGLING RING

Airline Workers In Texas Had Allegedly Shipped 10 Tons Of Marijuana Since
1998. Phila. Was One Distribution Point.

A federal grand jury has accused 34 people of participating in a major
marijuana-smuggling ring that allegedly used six American Airlines
employees to get the drug to distribution points in Philadelphia and Puerto
Rico.

Paul E. Coggins, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas,
announced the indictment Thursday along with the arrests of 20 of the 34
people charged with conspiracy and drug trafficking.

Coggins said the El Paso, Texas-based operation allegedly smuggled 10 tons
of marijuana since 1998.

Coggins said federal agents seized about $800,000, more than 1,500 pounds
of marijuana, more than 500 grams of cocaine, and several assault rifles
and other firearms.

An American Airline spokesman said: "We have zero tolerance for that type
of activity and we cooperated fully with federal authorities."

All six airline workers, apparently baggage handlers, were employed by
American's regional affiliate, American Eagle, which serves about 40 cities
within a range of 500 miles of American's headquarters and hub at
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Most of those charged in the drug ring live in
or around Dallas and El Paso. Five defendants are from St. Joseph, Mo., and
three are from Puerto Rico.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Eicher, chief of the President's
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in Philadelphia, said his
office was not involved in the Texas prosecution.

The Texas indictment does not give any details about the alleged marijuana
shipments to Philadelphia.

The indictment is the second drug case involving American Airline workers.
In August 1999, 30 airline baggage workers in Miami were charged with
smuggling cocaine, marijuana and firearms onto airliners for about two years.

And in April, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration announced charges
against more than 100 people who bribed FedEx drivers to distribute 121
tons of Mexican marijuana to East Coast distribution centers, including
Philadelphia.

This article was based on reporting by Inquirer staff writer Joseph A.
Slobodzian, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and the Associated Press.