Crackdown targets air cargo violations in Miami
U.S. authorities arrested several individuals and levied fines for multiple safety, licensing and immigration violations during an enforcement sweep of air cargo operations at Miami International Airport last week.
The Cargo Security Task Force inspected more than 350 commercial trucks and four airline warehouses, targeting cargo booked for transport on domestic and international passenger planes. Federal officers levied 52 fines totaling about $17,500 for safety and licensing violations and 19 trucks were forced out of service. Three individuals were discovered in violation of immigration law, federal agencies involved in the effort said.
Four of the violations were for improperly packed material, including one truck with radioactive material. A fuel truck was pulled out of service and removed from the airport for having a dangerous fire prevention system.
One driver was arrested for resisting arrest after he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Three other arrests were made for other driving violations.
'Those who are in the business of cargo transportation need to know that they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law for violations related to passenger planes. There is no room for error when people's lives are at stake,' said Special Agent Jesus Torres in a statement.
The task force is comprised of several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Hazardous Materials Field Unit.