WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twelve people, including six current and former Transportation Security Administration agents in Puerto Rico, have been charged with smuggling some 20 tons of cocaine into the continental United States between 1998 and 2016, the U.S. Justice Department said on Monday.
The TSA agents were paid to ensure suitcases each containing 8 kilograms to 12 kilograms (17.6 lb to 26.5 lb) of cocaine were able to pass through X-ray machines at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, according to a superseding indictment handed down on Feb. 8 by a grand jury in Puerto Rico, the department said in a statement.
"This investigation was initiated by TSA as part of its efforts to address employee misconduct and specific insider threat vulnerabilities. TSA has zero tolerance for employees engaged in criminal activity to facilitate contraband smuggling,” said José Baquero, Federal Security Director, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.
If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, the Justice Department said.
(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh)
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