Hoy newspaper reported that Customs security agents detained two pilots of an international airline at the Las Americas International Airport with carry on luggage full of cellular phones. The cellular phones supposedly would be sold to stores in the DR. The news story says that the airport authorities believe the pilots regularly transported cellulars to the country. These two bring to four the number of pilots or fake pilots caught at Las Americas trying to introduce contraband. Last week authorities at Las Americas International Airport arrested a 44-year old US citizen who dressed as a US commercial airline pilot was trying to introduce a contraband of jewelry into the DR. 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.
