Originally Posted by
chollie
I agree with all of your points, but I don't believe that a crooked TSO or baggage handler involved in smuggling drugs always inspects and tests each package of each shipment to make sure there are no nasty concealed surprises - something that could be a hazard to aviation safety.
Originally Posted by
Boggie Dog
Commenting about the highlighted statement above.
This has everything to do with commercial aviation security.
The ability to introduce any form of contraband to the sterile area demonstrates a critical weakness in security screening process that remains unaddressed by TSA. While I agree that illegal drugs are not a direct threat who is to say that supposed package of drugs isn't something that is a direct threat? The problem is that TSA's refusal to screen all airport workers leaves open the question of just what materials are being introduced and loaded on commercial aircraft. Drugs today bombs tomorrow.
I'm not saying that the ability to bypass security screening isn't a vulnerability. Perhaps drug trafficking through airports simply demonstrates the vulnerability. But, I think that's all it does....
If a druggie wants to get a quantity of drugs with a huge street value through airport security, all of the risk is on the druggie. If the civilian employee or TSA clerk getting the stuff through the checkpoint screws up, the druggie stands to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition to the lost revenue, the druggie probably has someone above him in the chain of command who will also be very upset. The druggie might lose a kneecap or worse.
So, my point is that the druggie is going to thoroughly vet the employee/clerk before entrusting them with a big mission. Similarly, the employee/clerk will be on the take and know exactly what they are being asked to do.
Further, the druggie needs flying airplanes in order to be able to conduct commerce. Both the druggie and helper want to be able to do this multiple times because they both profit.
I think that the only thing a bomb-smuggling mission has in common is the requirement to bypassing security screening. The people certainly won't be the same. Unless the bad guys appeal to radical ideology to recruit somebody, neither an airport employee nor a TSA clerk benefits from airplanes blowing up. In fact, if airplanes are grounded and an airport is being rebuilt, neither of these people have a job.
Politically, the TSA simply can't acknowledge that this vulnerability exists, let alone ask Congress for money to fix it. They can't ask for the money because of drug trafficking because, at least on paper, it's not their mission.
Right now, I think the bad guys believe that smuggling bombs around security screening in order to blow up airplanes is too tough. There are a lot more soft targets out there at airports and elsewhere.