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Last updated on Thursday, March 20, 2014
(UNDATED) - A group of people, including baggage handlers, allegedly operated a scheme to smuggle cocaine and other drugs onto aircrafts at San Diego International Airport to distribute to cities across the United States.
One popular destination according to the indictment: Detroit.
Officials at Metro Airport are not making comments because it is an ongoing federal investigation, but officials say they are looking into what may have transpired in Detroit.
Sergio Mejia Gambo was one of 11 people indicted by a grand jury on charges of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wheat told Magistrate Judge Ruben Brooks that Mejia was a source of drugs for the smuggling organization and was a risk to flee to Mexico if not detained.
Several other defendants made their initial appearances in federal court Tuesday.
The indictment alleges that Felix Samuel Garcia, Paulo Mendez Perez and Saul Bojorquez, all current or former employees of Delta Global Services -- which provides ground services for several airlines -- flashed badges numerous times and walked through checkpoints with drugs in their backpacks. Brian Alberto Gonzalez, also a DGS employee, allegedly worked as a courier.
According to the indictment, the drug-toting baggage handlers connected with drug couriers during clandestine meetings in airport restrooms in the secured area of Terminal 2, where they would wait for adjoining stalls to become available and once inside, would hand off the cocaine and methamphetamine under the stalls' divider.
After the bathroom rendezvous, the couriers would board flights and proceed to destinations such as New York City, Nashville, Detroit, Baltimore and Hawaii, where they were met by other members of the drug trafficking organization, according to the indictment.
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