Guns smuggled on planes from Atlanta to New York

[steelerdude99]

The worst idea ever....

Moderators, I am trying to avoid looking like I'm doing "a drop the link and run". I am more baffled as why someone would go through so much (and risk so much) for so little. Normally a gun-runner would drive guns to an area where guns are difficult to legally purchase. Instead, they sneak them on a plane in a backpack having possession of them in the passenger cabin! They do all of this NOT to wreak havoc on the plane with a hijack, but simply to transport them? But now they have attention of several three-letter federal agencies. One thing that really bugged me about what was reported on the local and national news on Tuesday the 23rd was that they said the were "bought on-line".

I am wondering if when declaring firearms for "checked lugged" of a NYC bound flight. Do they check to see if persons bring arms into NYC or only arrest those who attempt to declare a gun for not having a NYC registered gun? So, why not check a smaller number in checked baggage?

http://pix11.com/2014/12/23/guns-sm...nta-to-new-york-an-egregious-security-breach/

Two men worked together to smuggle guns and ammunition on at least 20 flights from Atlanta to New York from May to December, officials said.

“We have an egregious breach of security” at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport because airport employees “are not required to go through screening,” said Thompson. ....​

There is lots more of the anti-gun rhetoric "guns on the street" & "can shoot thorough a bullet proof vest"... Bottom line, criminals are really stupid.

chuck

 

[BobTheTomato]

hmmmm.....should have said he worked for the ATF and was trying to supply the cartels in NY. The only reason I can think they would have flown them is the may have been looking for out of state tags fitting certain profiles.

 

[g.willikers]

They had to fly them from Atlanta.
The drivers in every car they tried to hijack in Atlanta had guns!

 

[Red Wind]

I'll never go near that scary place again! You are too much, g.willikers!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Bottom line, criminals are really stupid.

Crime is a high risk job, but that does not mean that the criminals are really stupid. Apparently, they managed to ship 131 guns successfully, which is pretty impressive. If they beat the system multiple times, who is stupid?

 

[Warp]

I doubt I could have that much success. I doubt very many people could. Some combination of careful planning, intelligence, and plain old luck I guess.

 

[Outlaw75]

I am more baffled as why someone would go through so much (and risk so much) for so little.

Profit. I saw somewhere that the transporter's mother had been a long time airline employee and had earned a lifetime airfare discount pass. He was using it to go from ATL to NYC. Much cheaper and less taxing than driving.

 

[Pacsd]

I can't hardly imagine this being pulled off with aiding and abetting from other conspirators along the routes.

 

[lemaymiami]

In any security setup (from the most basic to the most advanced) the weak link is always the human element. I noted that the airline pilots and their crew have to go through screening... but the baggage handlers don't? That sort of stuff is just asking for a breach. Glad that nothing really bad (except for all the guns that did make it through and probably wound up in bad hands....) seems to have occurred. The goods being transported could have been anything.... and anything these days might be biologic or chemical.

 

[Twiki357]

From what I heard on the various news reports (And they were all a little different) there are up to five perps under arrest. And the 131(?) guns were sold to an undercover FBI(?) agent. So who knows how many were actually transported.

 

[RPRNY]

TSA: Theatre of Security Actors

 

[H&R Glock]

Two things ring my bell on this event....
why did they not just jump in the car and drive the guns to N.Y.? Hardly any risk of being caught.

Concerning the two cops that were murdered in Brooklyn: The news media somehow forgot to mention how the killer was able to buy a gun in New York. It's impossible to get a gun in N.Y. Did he buy a gun from the "Flying Gun Store"

Maybe they need more gun laws in New York to feel safe! Heres to you N.Y.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

I just read that he's been doing this for 5 years.





That's a lot of guns.

 

[Lycidas Janwor]

this story defies all logic and reason... as others have stated, why not just load up a car and drive to NY? How in the heck did these guns get past airport security? There's no way anyone could have pulled this off one time, let along multiple times... they must have had inside help.

 

[steelerdude99]

Crime is a high risk job, but that does not mean that the criminals are really stupid. Apparently, they managed to ship 131 guns successfully, which is pretty impressive. If they beat the system multiple times, who is stupid?

I argue again that the method they chose was extremely high risk and had to involve "insiders". Plus without a known "end buyer", they "went looking" for someone to sell to. That resulted in their getting caught.

I am also wondering why a lack of attention on the Atlanta side. Going to the same FFL with 131 sales? OR are they convincing multiple strangers to sell firearms directly to them? I have sold guns at auction sites and there were several messages asking if I would end the auction early for more than I was asking. I, of course, declined the offer.

chuck

 

[Ignition Override]

Airport and airline employees use an ID badge and personal pin number to go through what they call the ATL (Atlanta) "cheese grater".

Part of it is within view of the public.

 

[Thermactor]

Delta ramp rats strike again.

 

[geim druth]

total recoil

The guy that murdered those two policemen in New York City shot his girlfriend in Maryland and then brought the gun with him by bus to NY.

Of course, Maryland has pretty tough gun laws too. I don't know if he was a convicted felon but he had been arrested 49 times so I imagine he obtained the gun illegally.

 

[leadcounsel]

Big Picture - Scary part is that this was predicted that these workers have unfettered access to planes and can quite literally get anything on board. What if some terrorists offered him $50,000 to put a sealed "bag" on one of these planes and it was detonated over NYC??? Pretty scary business. More reasons not to fly.

Little picture - As a criminal defense lawyer, it is BAFFLING why criminals risk so much for so little. I've seen lives literally ruined with convictions, prison, loss of pay, fines, loss of career, lifetime scarlet letter, etc. for almost no gain or hope of any significant gain. Sad, really, the terrible decisions people make. I could tell some stories...

But, take this case. I can't imagine the trivial profits made on $500 guns, even sold at three times value and if they were stolen (crimes in of themselves), given the various middle men necessarily involved, as compared to the MASSIVE illegalities of interstate unlicensed gun running of piles of loaded guns on an airplane! State crimes, probably stolen guns, loaded guns on airplane, Federal crimes, DC gun crimes, interstate gun trafficking, illegal gun dealing, tax evasion, who knows what else... These guys are looking at decades in prison for probably a few thousand bucks, maybe a couple tens of thousands... but factor the $ over the next many years in prison, and it's pennies on the day... Sucks for them. I just cannot imagine what they were thinking. I mean, really, if it goes wrong for any reason, it's going to go extremely badly. Extremely. Some people are just not that smart.

The obvious question is why NYC? Why not just keep these local and under the radar? Were these purchased and sold in NYC at a significant premium? Still can't see the margins being much after profit sharing among several people... Why not drive to NYC with more guns. You could fill a car trunk in one trip. Seems much less risky too.

 

[Pilot]

I have always said it is not the passengers we have to worry about so much. It is the plethora of custodial employees, food service, baggage handlers, ramp agents, etc that are not very well paid, and can be easily bought off to hide stuff on a plane. I don't know why it doesn't happen more often, and caused catastrophic results.

 

[jmace57]

Maybe Faster & Furiouser?

 

[MErl]

That is very strange method but I suppose the base level of trust is too low in criminal enterprises to use USPS. This is only news because they used commercial planes.

 

[X-Rap]

My take away on this is how easy it will be and how useless all the billions of dollars spent since 911 are when people with a sack of cash want some really dirty deeds done.
We hear of all the things they stop but I bet what gets by would curl your hair.

 

[orionengnr]

How in the heck did these guns get past airport security?

As an airline employee for the last 28 years, I can answer that question:
Very easily.

My take away on this is how easy it will be and how useless all the billions of dollars spent since 911 are when people with a sack of cash want some really dirty deeds done.
We hear of all the things they stop but I bet what gets by would curl your hair.

Yes sir, you are correct on all counts.

No matter what your government tells you, there are holes in airport security that you can drive a truck through.

Any more than that, I don't want to say...and you really don't want to know.

TSA=Thousands Standing Around.
On your dime.

Only thing that really surprises me is that they got caught. Must have done something monumentally stupid.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

I watched a program on airport security a few years ago and they interviewed an Israeli security person who commented on it and he said it basically a joke.