handlers to told pack their bags

From: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15269966-2,00.html

Handlers to told pack their bags
By Joe Hildebrand and Charles Miranda
May 13, 2005



Key links ... police are targetting a core group of handlers.

UP TO 25 Sydney airport baggage handlers are expected to be stood down today under suspicion they are connected with a cocaine smuggling ring.

The trafficking racket is believed to be far more widespread than originally thought, with sources saying the scheme was common knowledge among large sections of staff.

Australian Federal Police and NSW Crime Commission are targeting a core group of six workers, including one senior staff member. One handler was stood down yesterday.

An investigation by The Daily Telegraph has also revealed that three to four Sydney airport workers a week are being caught out lying or not declaring their criminal records when applying for jobs.

Despite evidence of dishonest or criminal workers, Police Minister Carl Scully has rejected moves to base uniformed NSW police officers at the airport terminal.

It is further understood the Transport Workers Union has been calling for compulsory screening of baggage handlers since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, but Qantas has resisted the move.

Sources said one baggage handler was stood down yesterday and had his security credentials stripped by Qantas security staff.

According to an insider, up to 25 more are expected to be stood down today. Another industry source confirmed some staff would be stood down but would not say how many.

It is believed suspicion was first drawn to an alleged smuggling ring when some people changed their holiday plans from October 7 to October 9 to make sure they were present for a delayed payload of 10kg of cocaine on October 8.

This was the same day Schapelle Corby's boogie board bag was being processed through Sydney airport. It was found to contain 4kg of marijuana when she was arrested in Bali.

Meanwhile, it is understood probity checks on all new or current airport workers in the past year have seen at least 12 employees working in sensitive areas sacked by airport stakeholders including Qantas, Virgin and the Sydney Airports Corporation.

Up to four others a week are being caught lying or having lied about their backgrounds by AFP or NSW Police records.

Most are for minor criminal offences, but others have been for drug and theft offences.

In one instance, a potential worker from New Zealand claimed they were "clean" but it was found they had a large number of violence-related offences.

Qantas head of group security Geoff Askew said yesterday having a criminal record did not preclude employment but anyone caught being dishonest on their job applications was automatically rejected.

He said the number of those trying to beat Qantas' probity checks was "quite small".

Federal Transport Minister John Anderson said that since late 2003, employment checks were significantly tightened but it was possible a small number managed to slip through the net.

NSW Police Minister Carl Scully met SAC chief Max Moore-Wilton last Friday to discuss airport security.