Delta Confirms Its Agent Was Arrested for Drug Trafficking
Jeff Edwards November 09, 2015
Delta Air Lines has admitted that customs agents nabbed a 51-year-old female employee who is now facing narcotics trafficking charges.
Delta confirmed last week that a passenger recently arrested on drug trafficking charges at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) was an employee of the airline. Haydee Angelica Garcia was taken into custody after the 51-year-old woman arrived at the Delta hub on a flight from Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Peru. Police officials say that two kilograms of cocaine were discovered in Garcia’s suitcase by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.
Atlanta ABC affiliate WSBTV, reported that although Garcia was taken into custody following her arrival on an inbound international flight, she was not employed as a flight or cabin crew member by Delta Air Lines. Clayton County police would not comment on what was described as “an ongoing case,” but a court officer told the local television station that Garcia’s case is scheduled to be reviewed by a grand jury.
The amount of cocaine seized has an approximate street value of about $30,000. If convicted in the state of Georgia, Garcia could face a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison.
In a statement, company officials said Garcia was suspended immediately following her arrest in September and later fired. A spokesperson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Delta takes matters of this nature very seriously and we cooperated fully with authorities.”
[Photo: Getty Images]
