Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Phoenix TSA fails to detect 20 trips with 20 pounds of pot - failure or fearmongering?
Fox news in Phoenix is covering the story of two men who were running a regular pot transport scheme, delivering pot to Chicago from their home airport. The men had apparently passed through Phoenix Sky Harbor airport over 20 times, each time with almost 20 pounds of pot. The story focuses on why the TSA failed to detect the pot, and "what else may be getting through?". Because the men used airline buddy passes, their regular activity failed to show up on any of the automated watch systems, so they were able to book a ticket, and head directly to the airport.
The TSA issued a statement about the incident: "The mission of the TSA is to ensure the safety of the aviation system and intercept dangerous items."
To me, that makes perfect sense - the TSA is not in charge of finding or detecting drugs. If a TSA agent happens to find a stash of marijuana hidden in a bag, I'm sure he or she would call for airport law enforcement, but in my opinion, expecting the TSA to add drugs and other items to their search list is just not possible - they have a hard enough time finding guns and bombs. That said, I can understand them not finding the pot once, or maybe twice - but to fail to notice it over twenty times does seem rather excessive.
What do you think? Is it fair to blame the TSA for not finding 20 pounds of pot taken on a plane over 20 times?
| No - drugs are not a threat to aviation | |
|---|---|
| Yes - a checkpoint search should be looking for anything illegal, including drugs |
Filed under: North America, United States, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
stephen Jun 6th 2010 2:55PM
Someone needs to go back to reporter school 1) how is it apparent each of 20+ trips involved 20lbs. of pot. 2) how was it detected on the twentieth something trip. 3) where was it found at, are you asssuming a suitcase or up their but of course. 4) did they confess to 20+ felonies, and if so was it voluntary or beaten out of them. I see a picture of someone holding something that looks like pooh but not 20 lbs worth, unless it's dark matter pooh. Is that stuff illegal ?
OldTimer Jun 6th 2010 6:49PM
Absolutely in agreement! In addition to their operational inadequacies AOL seems to be cutting costs by hiring high school journalism drop-outs and never-weres. Too many seem to be foreign to the traditional five W's of reportage.
With regard to the basic conclusions of the voters, it sounds like the traffic cop who ignores the murder on his streetcorner because "It's not my job."
J. Shell Jun 6th 2010 3:06PM
TSA in Phoenix are terrible people. My 89 year old mother was in a wheelchair and they made her get out of her wheelchair and stand in a glass enclosure while they patted her down!!!!!!!!!!!!! They made us late for our flight, and we didn't get seated in the front of the plane for handicapped persons as we usually do, but had to fight our way to the very rear of a very crowded plane to sit down.
Ken Jun 6th 2010 3:26PM
So if I understand you right an elderly person in a wheel chair should be exempt from screening?" Are you kidding. TSA has caught people of all ages trying to smuggle stuff in the wheel chairs. Knives, weapons of all sorts. As far as making you late for your flight it looks to me like you were running late. So don't bad mouth some one doing a job that allows you to be safe, free and a jerk.
tony Jun 6th 2010 9:22PM
apparently you were never in vietnam or any other combat zone where anybody could be the one with a grenade or bomb...seven year old boys and girls and 90 year old grandmas and grandpas. if your mom could walk thru the metal detector and passed she wouldn't have to be patted down. if she doesn't, she goes to the booth. or, maybe, you would like someone else's grandmother to be passed thru with a grenade and blow up your mom's plane. you need to grow up and realize the world you live in.
J. Shell Jun 6th 2010 6:19PM
Ken you're an idiot
DMP Jun 6th 2010 3:54PM
Well Imagine this, another Goverment come to the rescue when private sector supposedly can't handle something right. Not saying that the private sector is perfect but I haven't seen one government agency that has been created that hasn't over paid workers who don't give a crap about the public that are paying for there salaries. Just because the TSA wear fancy uniforms and there are now 5 at every screening machine doesn't seem to make them any better then when we had non goverment people doing the job. Oh no wonder what new goverment agency is coming now since BP screwed up?
anni Jun 6th 2010 4:05PM
Just a little pot. Get over it. The sky is not falling.
Kay Jun 7th 2010 4:18PM
As a person who lives in AZ ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING is possible and does happen. I am surprised it wasn't guns. Guns are God in AZ. We have a law that says you can take a gun into a bar, but you can't drink if you carry the gun into the bar. The state Legislature passed this law. Besides the TSA are so busy checking us old farts, with our new parts they hardly have time for anything else.
Dick Jun 6th 2010 4:30PM
My sister-in-law got sniffed out by an airport dog ( Ft, Lauderdale) and only had an eighth of an ounce. 20 pounds??!!!! 20 times??!!!! I want to fly outta there ALL the time!!!
Ang Jun 6th 2010 4:32PM
God could we legalize this stuff already and just move on with our lives....
Actionwriter Jun 6th 2010 6:25PM
Pot from?/??????...Where? Mexico? Acapulco gold? Kona prime? What difference does it make? Why drive when you can fly? NP IMHO so far as they not sharing with the flight crew while airborne---heeeeey, MAYBE thats why that airliner missed the destination airport-( where was that? Ohio?) last week--the one that went 150 miles PAST the destination--remember? TSA hires only misfits anyway. Don't expect them to be courtious or know the difference between a AK47 and nose candy.
bencowart Jun 6th 2010 5:02PM
This is because the TSA (and everybody else) uses 60's technology scanning equipment. There's a company called ScanTech that makes a scanner that would have caught this and anything else, but they're expensive so our government will not buy them. It's better to have machines that don't work.
don Jun 6th 2010 5:17PM
Replace the TSA with a box of baseball bats, one for each passenger, at the gate. Oh, and let anyone bring box knives on board, poor souls.
Much cheaper and just as safe.
don Jun 6th 2010 7:19PM
Read this on AOL a couple of years back.
"Put 100 wannabe passengers with baseball bats in a long skinny room and send in a convicted terrorist with a box knife. If the terrorist lives longer than 10 seconds, put all 100 wannabees on the don't-fly list.
michael arkin Jun 6th 2010 5:20PM
Are you nuts ? TSA is charged with the responsibility of assuring safety. It is not a national DEA or FBI or any other agency charged with law enforcement other than airline safety and national security. This is a bogus story.
Tholzel Jun 6th 2010 5:22PM
Weird article, barely explaining anything. How did they get through? What was the method? What is this magic "Buddy Pass"?
I work at Logan airport and have to pass through security daily. I've never heard of "Buddy Passes." And even though I know many of the TSA guys, they don't cut me any slack.
So this article is just another one of those Fark reports--making up a story out of practically nothing. Probably the Gadling's owner trying to let his latest girlfriend break in to journalism.
Scott Carmichael Jun 6th 2010 6:25PM
A buddy pass is an employee ticket. The article never said they were able to bypass security, just that their travel patterns were not picked up by any of the systems used to pre-screen passengers. Thanks for the insults though!
Tiwahe Jun 7th 2010 3:34AM
TSA priority is to protect the traveling public from weapons and bombs that could endanger a flight and prevent another 9/11 ... They are not DEA agents .. IF they run across any drugs during a warranted search of a bag then, yes, they report it to an L.E.O. ..... But it has to be a physical search ..The scanning equipment is not geared to scan for drugs ..
Liz Jun 6th 2010 5:42PM
Drugs are only a hazzard if the captain uses them. Who cares. Just catch those bombs coming through!...Please!