What kind of people are working for the Transportation Security Administration? And what are they doing? Sure — they wand your crotch and stare at you naked (or did), but what else?

Well, for six current and former employees, the answer is: smuggle 20 tons of cocaine between 1988 and 2016.

Nicely done.

Total value: $100 million.

From Fox News:

“A dozen members of the alleged ring, including TSA workers and airport employees, were indicted Feb. 8 in the District of Puerto Rico on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine…”

I guess “Transportation SECURITY Administration” was a good cover. Therefore, a federal sting was a might complicated to set up.

The coke carriers were able to take their power powder right through carry-on and checked-baggage channels. Install a few co-conspirators at the x-ray station and voilà — golden.

Drug mules would then board the loaded planes that were just plain loaded.

But they ain’t no more! U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez hailed the arrests:

“These individuals were involved in a conspiracy to traffic massive quantities of illegal narcotics to the continental United States. These arrests demonstrate the success of the AirTAT initiative, which has successfully allocated a dedicated group of state and federal law enforcement officers, whose mission is to ensure that our airports are not used in the drug traffickers’ illicit businesses.”

I guess a group of crooks within the TSA smuggling illegal items or substances is kind of a no-brainer. How’s the agency doing otherwise?

Well, in 2015, in a test of efficacy, the Department of Homeland Security attempted to sneak through 70 weapons. TSA detected three.

Additionally — according to a report that same year — failing to identify them, the Transportation Security Administration hired 73 individuals on terrorist watch lists.

At least the 6 individuals are finally in custody. Still, though they may be frowning now, a buncha scoundrels went long undetected, right under the noses of people tasked with keeping us safe. For almost three long decades, they were able to stuff their pockets and — like the commercial says — Have a Coke and a Smile.

-Alex

See 3 more pieces from me: septic shock, toxic shock, and racist shock.

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