October 15, 2010 - On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced charges against two airline employees for their role in a drug smuggling scheme. The charges stem from an investigation led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). 

A superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Brooklyn was unsealed on Thursday charging former American Airlines baggage handler Victor Bourne and former American Airlines dispatching crew chief Miguel Bozza with drug trafficking and related charges. 

The superseding indictment also charges Maria Alleyne, the mother of Victor Bourne, with structuring the purchase of money orders to avoid financial reporting requirements.

According to a court filing by the government, the Bourne Organization was responsible for the importation more than 150 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. The indictment further alleges that the organization was responsible for the shipment of more than 5,000 kilograms of marijuana aboard cargo vessels, in part through a Brooklyn footwear business owned by Maria Alleyne, to businesses in Barbados. 

Bourne and Alleyne structured the purchase of U.S. Postal Service money orders to avoid federal reporting requirements, and thereby, enabled the organization to transfer clandestinely its drug proceeds. "These charges are another example our continuing pursuit of international drug traffickers through a global enforcement strategy," stated Lynch. "We will continue to investigate and prosecute workers at our ports of entry who threaten the integrity of our borders." 

"The use of commercial aircraft to smuggle narcotics creates a serious threat to both national security and public safety," said Hayes. "As the investigative arm of the U.S. Department Homeland Security, HSI is committed to bringing to justice individuals directly involved with these criminal enterprises and those who are complicit in furthering their schemes."