Airport authorities arrested 44-year old US citizen Hugh Dennis Carvel for trying to introduce a contraband of jewelry into the DR. Carvel was dressed as a US commercial airline pilot. The contraband was in his hand luggage. He was deported on the next plane out. During questioning he said he had been transporting merchandise to the DR successfully for the past six months. The jewelry would be sold in Santo Domingo to different stores. As a result, Customs increased security at the airport detecting in less than 24 hours another fake pilot contraband operation. This time, a former pilot of Dominicana Airlines was caught trying to introduce a contraband of cellular phones and accessories valued at RD$176,000. According to a report in El Siglo, Carlos Garc?a Espino arrived on American Airlines flight AA423 attired as a pilot. Garc?a observed the stepped-up security at the airport and returned to the airplane to change into civilian clothes. He later remained hidden in the terminal for several minutes. All this was being observed by airport authorities. After arrested he told the authorities he was paid US$1,000 for each trip and that the merchandise was for Electro-Compus. Offenders caught for contraband are not taken to jail, but most pay heavy fines. As a consequence of the detected contraband cases, now all carry-on luggage of airline crews is being checked.
