DRUG STING CORRUPTED BY 'EASY' MONEY

The corrupting influence of drug money threatens all spheres of American
society. On Wednesday, the airline industry and a few government law
enforcement agencies took a hit.

Dozens of American Airlines employees were arrested in a two-year federal
government sting, which also snarled a handful of food service contract
employees, at least one Immigration and Naturalization agent, and a
Department of Agriculture inspector. Even a Broward Sherrif's Office
deputy, working as a part-time airport baggage handler, fell into the trap.

The sting was operated by federal government agents posing as drug
traffickers. They paid American Airlines employees and others to unload
phony cocaine from flights arriving from South America at Miami
International Airport. The suspects then used their airport security passes
to smuggle bogus drugs and weapons on to flights bound for New York,
Philadelphia and other cities.

In some cases, the phony drugs were hidden in airline food trays.

Government sources said suspects were paid up to $3,000 per trip, adding
that the estimated $1 million sting ran out of money before it ran out of
defendants.

Fifty-eight people in South Florida and New York have been charged in the
investigation dubbed "Operation Ramp Rat".

What the scheme shows is how drug smuggling and corruption works, and how
business and even government is not immune to this illegal behavior.

It also demonstrates the need for improving and tightening security at
airports, seaports and all other venues vulnerable to drug smuggling.

Law enforcement needs the cooperation of the business community, which must
be on the lookout for signs of corruption. American airlines issued a
statement saying it had cooperated in the federal investigation and had
been watching the employees who were arrested.

All businesses that are potential targets for drug smugglers need thorough
screening procedures for job applicants. They also must train employees how
to spot the warning signs that someone within the organization has been
corrupted by the drug trade.

Agencies such as the Broward Sherirr's Office, the INS and others must
review the checks and balances that root out a few bad apples who betray
the public's trust when they accept bribes from drug dealers.

The United States grades many foreign governments on how well they fight
drug trafficking and corruption in their societies. Americans need to
remember how drug money can corrupt their countrymen as well.