1.3 tonnes of cocaine found on AF in Paris

[Passion for flying]

From yesterdays issue of Swedish tabloid "Expressen":

French police report that on the 11th of September they found 1.3 tonnes of cocaine in 30 pieces of travellers baggage on an AF flight that arrived to Paris from Caracas, Venezuela. The report continues: The bags were not checked in by passengers on the flight. The finding has been withheld to protect the investigation, and was announced on Saturday, according to the article. (yes, that is 43 kgs per bag.. whoa!)

So, what has this to do with flight safety, one may ask?

one: Considering that we have to assume Air France were unaware of this, i believe it is noteworthy that there was 1.3 tonnes of extra cargo on that flight. It must have affected the weights and balances calculation, at least a little.

two: Further, there must have been a major security breach, when 1.3 tonnes of something was present in the cargo hold of that flight. Particularly considering the day, (9/11). So, it is still possible to breach the security at an airport, for money. Had this been a terrorist activity, the cocaine would have been explosives, and the target could have been the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe or whichever landmark they had chosen.

Dear colleagues, your comments are invited,,

link to BBC News, for those who do not speak Swedish

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24191714

[Gabriel]

From yesterdays issue of Swedish tabloid "Expressen":

French police report that on the 11th of September they found 1.3 tonnes of cocaine in 30 pieces of travellers baggage on an AF flight that arrived to Paris from Caracas, Venezuela. The report continues: The bags were not checked in by passengers on the flight. The finding has been withheld to protect the investigation, and was announced on Saturday, according to the article. (yes, that is 43 kgs per bag.. whoa!)

So, what has this to do with flight safety, one may ask?

one: Considering that we have to assume Air France were unaware of this, i believe it is noteworthy that there was 1.3 tonnes of extra cargo on that flight. It must have affected the weights and balances calculation, at least a little.

two: Further, there must have been a major security breach, when 1.3 tonnes of something was present in the cargo hold of that flight. Particularly considering the day, (9/11). So, it is still possible to breach the security at an airport, for money. Had this been a terrorist activity, the cocaine would have been explosives, and the target could have been the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe or whichever landmark they had chosen.

Dear colleagues, your comments are invited,,

link to BBC News, for those who do not speak Swedish

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24191714

"The bags were not checked in by passengers on the flight", but it could have been declared cargo (declared as something else, of course).

[Evan]

Dear colleagues, your comments are invited

One thing I've learned on this forum is that flying on Air France is risky to begin with. The next time I fly on Air France I hope I get a window seat to see the blue moon.

[Dispatch Dog]

"The bags were not checked in by passengers on the flight", but it could have been declared cargo (declared as something else, of course).

If memory serves, there is the 'rush bag' process that airlines use to move amounts of baggage through the networks to certain places. This can be lost baggage being returned to its owners, bags that have missed a connection, or similar.

The process should include thorough security checks of each bag at each point of departure or transfer, since it is outside of the baggage reconcilliation process.

I have also moved baggage as cargo, again, once it has passed the usual security checks.

So in any case, there must be 'someone' on the inside for this amount to get through 'security'.

[TeeVee]

3 national guardsmen arrested: http://world.time.com/2013/09/23/hug...-in-suitcases/

here is, without a doubt, my favorite line in this matter: "Venezuelan authorities are also investigating. The Public Ministry said prosecutors will investigate, along with the Counterdrug Command of the National Guard in Simon Bolivar International Airport, to see if any criminal activity took place." http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/22/world/...cocaine-found/

the miami herald had this story two days ago. i got caught up in something else and forgot to post it.

forget air france. flying out of venezuela is horrendously dangerous. ok, you let a few kilos slip by. it happens. but 1.3 tons?

those socialist idiots scream all day about us imperialist yankees, cuz we rightfully accuse them of allowing (and now participating) in the trans-shipment of drugs. where is that a-hole maduro now? why isn't he shaking his fist at his own dirtbags???

as for AF, well, if it ain't clear by now that security and safety are not high on their list, i'm not sure what will make that clear.

[3WE]

Was this another one of those contests to see how fast you can get high?

[Felipe Garcia]

It's no secret that Chavez, and the disciple and leader of his new church (now that he's dead) was one of the largest drug dealers in South America, the FARC and other groups get the drugs out of Colombia and they find their way out of Venezuela.

[Peter Kesternich]

How big of an influence does an airline have on the security checks at foreign airports? Could this have happened to other airlines flying to Caracas as well, e.g. Lufthansa or Iberia?

[Dispatch Dog]

How big of an influence does an airline have on the security checks at foreign airports? Could this have happened to other airlines flying to Caracas as well, e.g. Lufthansa or Iberia?

Yup!

At most airports, the airline relies on the airport authorities who usually contract out many roles of security. While the airline may pay for these through fees, they have little say in the terminal and baggage security checks.
Cargo is another matter. While one layer of security will be airport perimeter checks, the airline is responsible, again, usually through agents that items are checked before being sent to the aircraft.

So, often all airlines using a certain airport are equally exposed.

[Peter Kesternich]

(...)
So, often all airlines using a certain airport are equally exposed.

Well - in that case, I hope this thread doesn't turn into another round of the ever-popular Air France bashing...

[Gabriel]

Yup!

At most airports, the airline relies on the airport authorities who usually contract out many roles of security. While the airline may pay for these through fees, they have little say in the terminal and baggage security checks.
Cargo is another matter. While one layer of security will be airport perimeter checks, the airline is responsible, again, usually through agents that items are checked before being sent to the aircraft.

So, often all airlines using a certain airport are equally exposed.

Unless you are El-Al.

[Dispatch Dog]

Well - in that case, I hope this thread doesn't turn into another round of the ever-popular Air France bashing...

Yes, I hope so too.

It is amazing so many people create a finite impression from such a small sample of information when there are thousands more examples to the contrary.

Keeping an unbiased, open mind is the only way to see clearly and understand this industry.

[Dispatch Dog]

Unless you are El-Al.

Lol... yes!

Just running a flight on a gate next to them I remember frogmen searching my coffee and security guards on the ramp that looked like henchmen from an Austin Powers movie.

[TeeVee]

Yup!

At most airports, the airline relies on the airport authorities who usually contract out many roles of security. While the airline may pay for these through fees, they have little say in the terminal and baggage security checks.
Cargo is another matter. While one layer of security will be airport perimeter checks, the airline is responsible, again, usually through agents that items are checked before being sent to the aircraft.

So, often all airlines using a certain airport are equally exposed.

beg to differ with you. in most places in latin america where i have traveled on AA (quite a few), AA has their own security for bags and pax. for example, at KMGA, after you are cleared to board at the gate, you may be randomly selected for screening by AA's own security team. my friend used to be the station chief there and said that there was never any specific threat, but aa just wanted to do it.

don't really care what any airport authority says anywhere. the airline has the ultimate word on its own procedures for anything stricter than what the airport is mandating.

[SYDCBRWOD]

Just running a flight on a gate next to them I remember frogmen searching my coffee and security guards on the ramp that looked like henchmen from an Austin Powers movie.

Classic! You funny!