Nearly 20 years after 9/11 we still have federal air marshals in the US, even if the program is smaller than it used to be (there are now believed to be around 3,000 air marshals, and this program is costing taxpayers over $755 million in 2020).
The air marshal program doesn’t have much to show for its efforts, as we’ve seen more air marshals arrested than arrests performed by air marshals. We’ve seen air marshals leave guns in airport bathrooms and in airplane bathrooms, we’ve seen them pull guns on civilians in parking disputes, and we’ve seen them rearrange their flight schedules to accommodate trysts.
Well, the latest thing putting air marshals in the news is viagra.
20 air marshals smuggled viagra
The latest scandal to hit the federal air marshal program is being nicknamed “bonergate,” and it involves around 20 air marshals in the Dallas field office.
A secretive two year investigation has revealed that air marshals have been purchasing viagra abroad, where it’s often significantly cheaper than in the US, and then reselling it to colleagues in the US.
Air marshals can bypass typical security checks, which is why they could get away with importing prescription drugs without issue. Some air marshals apparently sold viagra to colleagues at cost, while others tried to make a profit.
It goes without saying that this is potentially illegal, as it constitutes the importation of prescribed medicine for distribution without a license. There’s also the risk of counterfeit viagra, not to mention that medicine from abroad may not meet FDA requirements or have been properly inspected.
How are air marshals being punished for this?
The roughly 10% of the Dallas field office found to have been involved in this is being punished in different ways:
- Some air marshals are facing a three to 10 day suspension
- At least two air marshals may be terminated from evidence uncovered during the investigation
- Another air marshal resigned after he was suspended
Air marshals involved have been instructed not to speak about the situation, and have even had to sign an NDA. As an anonymous air marshal explained:
“Everybody involved had to sign an NDA. There was not a lot of real heavy-handed discipline. People took their lumps — it could have been worse — and went on with it.”
The union representing air marshals described this simply as an “error in judgment,” which sure is convenient:
“We have pride in our positions, and some people — whatever they did — I believe it was an error or error in judgment. Men can go to doctors and get a prescription. So why would they have to go and buy it and not know what they’re getting?”
Bottom line
An investigation has revealed that around 20 air marshals in Dallas have been smuggling viagra into the US from abroad in recent years. They then distributed it to colleagues, either at cost or at a profit.
I can only imagine what kind of a punishment regular citizens would face if they imported prescription drugs with the intent to distribute, while this is simply being referred to as “an error in judgment,” and punishments start at just a three day suspension.
Remind me why we spend over three-quarters of a billion dollars per year on this program?
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