Thread: OIA Security Breach Spawns Possible New Laws

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OIA Security Breach Spawns Possible New Laws

POSTED: 8:18 am EST March 9, 2007
UPDATED: 8:26 am EST March 9, 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. -- This week's security breach at Orlando International Airport could spark change at the nation's airports. Federal authorities held a closed door meeting in Washington Thursday to talk about the failure.

Two Com-Air workers smuggled 14 guns and eight pounds of drugs onto a flight from Orlando to Puerto Rico.

Congressman John Mica said he'd give the employee screening system a grade of C-minus, or D.

"We have measures in place, some i can't talk about on camera that would have dealt with the individuals if they intended to use the weapons. I think we need to look at the whole system and see where we can plug the holes," said Mica.

The Transportation Security Administration said two federal air marshals were on board the flight the smugglers took earlier this week.
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UPDATE

2nd suspect in OIA security breach held without bail
Pedro Ruz Gutierrez
Sentinel Staff Writer

March 7, 2007, 4:32 PM EST

In Orlando's federal court, a judge this afternoon ordered one of two Osceola County men accused of smuggling guns and drugs to Puerto Rico through Orlando's airport be detained without bail until further hearings.

Zabdiel Santiago-Balaguer, 22, is accused of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possession of firearms that were used during a drug-trafficking offense. He was arrested late Tuesday night, a day after his alleged accomplice, Anthony Thomas Muñoz, also 22, was arrested in Puerto Rico. He also is being held without bail at a San Juan federal detention facility.

Muñoz is accused of taking a duffel bag full of guns, an assault rifle and eight pounds of marijuana aboard a Delta Air Lines flight out of Orlando International Airport, where he bypassed strict Transportation Security Administration checkpoints by accessing off-limit areas with his airport ID badge.

Santiago-Balaguer and Muñoz packaged the drugs and guns during the weekend, according to court records.

In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent Citro said the arrests are part of a larger investigation into guns and drug running and asked U.S. Magistrate James Glazebrook to hold Santiago-Balaguer without bail.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Stephen Lang said he could not comment on his client's case.

The incident is the latest security breach to hit OIA in several years. In years past, TSA employees and other airport subcontractors have been arrested on charges of smuggling drugs onboard flights to the U.S. Commonwealth in the Caribbean.

On Monday, federal authorities in Orlando alerted Transportation Security Administration officials in Puerto Rico to conduct a screening of all passengers exiting Flight 933 in San Juan. It's unclear how authorities learned of Muñoz's travel plans.

Santiago-Balaguer is the same person initially identified in court records as "Zab," who allegedly offered Muñoz $4,000 to $5,000 to deliver the firearms and marijuana to contacts in Puerto Rico. After his arrest, Muñoz told authorities he met Santiago-Balaguer while working at Comair, a subsidiary of Delta, and "had recently found hiimself in a difficult financial situation."

According to a complaint by an agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the two men packaged the guns, an assault rifle and eight pounds of marijuana late Sunday and arrived at OIA at about 3 a.m. Monday. They used their airport ID cards to access restricted areas and bypass the regular TSA screening lines. After securing the drugs and guns in a departure gate area, Muñoz told agents he went to work and cleared TSA checks as he normally does.
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