There are many ways that drugs are smuggled internationally, including on commercial aircraft. However, in some cases it’s not in the passenger cabin, and no one onboard is even aware of the special cargo being carried…
In this post:
American mechanic charged with cocaine trafficking
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has announced that 55-year-old Paul Belloisi has been convicted for being the inside man for a drug smuggling scheme at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK).
A federal jury has convicted Belloisi of all three counts of an indictment, as he was charged with conspiring to possess cocaine, conspiring to import cocaine, and importing cocaine. He now faces up to 20 years in prison.
This crime dates back to February 4, 2020, and involves American Airlines flight AA1349, which operated from Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ), to New York, United States (JFK). The aircraft had arrived at JFK Terminal 8, and was selected for a routine search by US Customs and Border Protection officers.
The officers found 10 bricks of cocaine weighing 25.56 pounds hidden inside an electronics compartment on the underside of the cockpit. That cocaine had a street value of $285,000 to $320,000. How were officers able to establish Belloisi’s connection to the scheme, though? Well, that’s an interesting story…
How the American mechanic got caught
Hiding drugs on an aircraft is a common smuggling technique. In these situations, often no one onboard has any clue that this is happening, but rather you just have ground workers at the origin and destination who are involved in the scheme.
How did the officers manage to figure out Belloisi’s involvement, given that he wasn’t present when they found the drugs?
The officers replaced the cocaine with fake bricks, and sprayed the bricks with a substance that glows when illuminated with a special light. Officers then placed the aircraft under surveillance from a distance. Shortly before the aircraft was scheduled to depart on its next flight, Belloisi was seen driving up to the plane, and pulled himself inside the electronics department.
Belloisi was then confronted by law enforcement officers, who observed his gloves glowing under the black light, indicating that he had handled the fake bricks. He was also carrying an empty tool bag, and the lining of his jacket had cutouts large enough to hold the bricks.
The police did a great job finding him. One has to wonder how many times he previously did this and was successful, as I have to imagine that it’s unlikely to be the first attempt. Furthermore, I wonder if this was actually a truly random inspection, or if someone had tipped CBP off on what was going on.
United States Attorney Breon Peace had the following to say about this conviction:
“As proven, the defendant was caught red-handed trying to facilitate the smuggling of a large stash of cocaine hidden in an electronics compartment of the aircraft. This corrupt airline mechanic not only abused his position of trust and undermined the security of a vital border crossing in our district, but was also willing to potentially endanger the safety of travelers as well as the community.”
Bottom line
An American Airlines mechanic has been found guilty for his involvement in a cocaine smuggling scheme. During a routine check by CBP officers, over 25 pounds of cocaine bricks were found underneath the cockpit of an American Airlines jet that just arrived from Jamaica.
In order to figure out who was involved in this scheme, officers replaced the real cocaine bricks with fake ones, and then observed the aircraft. That’s when Belloisi showed up, and was then taken into custody.
What do you make of this American Airlines mechanic smuggling story?
The union will reinstate him with back wages when he is released from prison....it wasn't fair that he got caught.
I’m a law student sat in on trial people should look at the transcripts this guy was framed 100% don’t believe me read it did yourself
Legalize drugs.
Drug laws are completely unnecessary because if you don't want to take drugs you can just NOT TAKE DRUGS. I personally hate drugs, drug culture, and I believe any individual who uses drugs is a moron, BUT IT SHOULD BE LEGAL. Because why? This behavior done on their own time, when they are not driving or operating machinery, is the textbook definition of VICTIMLESS. A free society does not punish victimless acts. We...
Legalize drugs.
Drug laws are completely unnecessary because if you don't want to take drugs you can just NOT TAKE DRUGS. I personally hate drugs, drug culture, and I believe any individual who uses drugs is a moron, BUT IT SHOULD BE LEGAL. Because why? This behavior done on their own time, when they are not driving or operating machinery, is the textbook definition of VICTIMLESS. A free society does not punish victimless acts. We do not even have universal healthcare in our country so if they need healthcare for rehab THEY PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES.
@UA GS @ SFO
You sound just like NRA when they say "Guns Don't Kill People, People Kill People"
And in case you don't know, Obamacare pays for rehab so unless you're (a GS) in poverty, YOU STILL INDIRECTLY PAY IT FOR THEM.
In your own words, replacing 'drugs' with 'guns' and see if your argument still stands.
Per @UA GS @ SFO
[Legalize guns.
Guns laws are completely unnecessary because if...
@UA GS @ SFO
You sound just like NRA when they say "Guns Don't Kill People, People Kill People"
And in case you don't know, Obamacare pays for rehab so unless you're (a GS) in poverty, YOU STILL INDIRECTLY PAY IT FOR THEM.
In your own words, replacing 'drugs' with 'guns' and see if your argument still stands.
Per @UA GS @ SFO
[Legalize guns.
Guns laws are completely unnecessary because if you don't want to own guns you can just NOT OWN GUNS. I personally hate guns, gun culture, and I believe any individual who uses guns is a moron, BUT IT SHOULD BE LEGAL. Because why? This behavior done on their own time, when they are not driving or operating machinery, is the textbook definition of VICTIMLESS. A free society does not punish victimless acts. We do not even have universal healthcare in our country so if they need healthcare for get shot THEY PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES.]
Wake up on real issues not the ones they want you 'woke'.
WHO TF cares? The Government has always been and will always be losing this asinine war on drugs. If people want to do drugs and let that be their life, then let them. The government would be better served decriminalizing and / or regulating and taxing this industry. Instead we have these self important CPB / DEA officers thumping their chest for finding $300k worth of blow....big whoop (idiots). Think of all the government man...
WHO TF cares? The Government has always been and will always be losing this asinine war on drugs. If people want to do drugs and let that be their life, then let them. The government would be better served decriminalizing and / or regulating and taxing this industry. Instead we have these self important CPB / DEA officers thumping their chest for finding $300k worth of blow....big whoop (idiots). Think of all the government man hours and money that is wasted trying to combat this. We could have healthcare for everyone and eliminate cartel violence overnight (and happier people across the board). Two generations down from us will realize this and look back on these times like we do current day on Prohibition.
This is a travel/points blog. Please post your views on drug decriminalization elsewhere.
Don't tell me what to do. Oh wait, you like the government telling you what to do.
@Addict
They are doing what you are saying already. Government doesn't have time to go after negligible drugs. These $300k are just for show of propaganda.
The drugs that they control includes guns, sugar, tobacco, alcohol, weed, opioids, Xanax, Adderall and recently Covid vaccines. No time to go after cocaine for the US cartel.
This mechanic will serve years in prison, while the Sackler family who killed hundreds of thousands with their opiods gets to live free and filthy rich.
Happens everyday. Especially at smaller airports.
I'm sure this happens a lot more than we think, and people end up getting away with it more often than we'd prefer.
One easy way to put an end to these stunts is to legalize drugs.
Maybe more than you prefer, but I'm guessing a large group of people either don't care one way or the other, or are happy that these people get away with it. Just saying, maybe don't use the collective "we" here.
Tip of the iceberg, especially in places where airline staff are not screened entering and exiting the airside.