Imperial Beach Man Accused of Drug Smuggling as Airport Baggage Handler

According to the San Bernardino County Sun, Felix Samuel Garcia, 29, of Imperial Beach is one of three men "...accused of meeting with drug couriers inside airport restrooms and exchanging drugs..."

This story made NBC's national news.

Defendants in the San Diego International Airport federal drug smuggling case include:

•Felix Samuel Garcia, 29, Imperial Beach, baggage handler

•Paulo Mendez Perez, 36, Chula Vista, baggage handler

•Sergio Mejia-Gambo, 22, San Bernardino, alleged mastermind

•Angel Ortega, 26, San Bernardino, allegedly second in command

•David Camacho, 27, San Bernardino, alleged courier

•Jesus Morales, 21, San Bernardino, alleged courier

•Henry Garcia-Arambula, 22, San Bernardino, baggage handler

•Israel Acosta, 48 San Bernardino, baggage handler

•Candelario Perez, 24, Fresno, alleged courier

•Brian Gonzalez, 30, San Diego, baggage handler

•Saul Bojorquez Aviles, 26, Chula Vista, baggage handler

The suspects, if convicted, could face 10 years in federal prison.

New York, Nashville, Detroit, Baltimore and Hawaii were the main destinations for the smugglers, according to prosecutors.

They claim the four baggage handlers took drugs and cash through checkpoints using their airport credentials to bypass security.

According to a complaint, agents seized eight kilograms (17 pounds) of cocaine, 18 pounds of methamphetamine and $103,846 in cash during the yearlong investigation.

“This was a brazen scheme to smuggle drugs right under the noses of airport security officials,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. “We aren’t going to let dangerous drugs fly in unchecked bags in the overhead bins of commercial aircraft.”

This is believed to be the first federal drug prosecution of airport employees at San Diego’s largest airport, according to federal prosecutors.