Two men are under arrest for allegedly running a gun-smuggling operating between Atlanta and New York via a passenger carry-on piece of luggage aboard Delta Airlines, ABC News reported on Monday.
Eugene Harvey, who worked as a ramp agent and baggage handler for the airline, was charged with gun-trafficking and entering an airport against security regulations, according to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Georgia.
Mark Quentin Henry, another man, was nabbed on Dec. 10 after a probe by the NYPD. When he was caught, he allegedly had 18 guns of various types and models in his possession, seven of which were loaded.
When questioned, he told police he had flown from Atlanta to New York with the 18 handguns and bullets packed in a carry-on bag.
"At the time of his arrest, Henry was in possession of a Delta Air Lines boarding pass for Delta flight 2352, traveling from Hartsfield-Jackson to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport," according to the affidavit.
Henry boarded the plane easily using the "Buddy Pass" credentials of his mother, a previous gate agent for the airlines, WSBT reported.
Authorities were led to Harvey through Henry's cell phone. Harvey works in a baggage transfer room in Atlanta and the two worked in collaboration with each other, with Harvey sending the guns through security at different times. He had access to secure spaces that were not required to undergo TSA screening.
"Delta is cooperating with authorities in this investigation. We take seriously any activity that fails to uphold our strict commitment to the safety and security of our customers and employees," Delta said in a statement.
