Weird, Abusive Hazing Took Place At Newark Airport, Customs Officers Say

NEWARK, NJ — Federal officials are investigating three U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers’ claims that veteran officers subjected them to bizarre, sexually abusive hazing rituals at Newark Airport. The incidents allegedly included officers being duct-taped to a “rape table” and another officer riding another like a horse, a report says.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed that the agency is conducting an investigation into the allegations, NBC New York reported.

“Hazing wouldn’t do this justice… This is complete assault,” a male CBP officer told the station.

The accusing officers told reporters that the abuse has been going on for years in a room at the airport’s Terminal C, which features a conference table that hazers have dubbed “The Rape Table.”

While no clothing was removed during the hazing episodes, there were plenty of weird and sexually abusive elements, the accusing officers told NBC New York:

• The ritual allegedly involves the “grinding of genital areas” on the victims
• An officer allegedly mounted one of the new hires and “rode him like a horse”
• An officer alleged that the "Party Boy Song" from the MTV shock series “Jackass” played in the background during one hazing episode

"There was a back and forth between another officer and myself," a female officer told NBC New York. "He said, 'You deserve to be put on the rape table.' And that’s when he started chasing me. … [Eventually] I was held down by another officer and one additional officer taped me with green customs tape to the chair."

Read the full report here.

CBP spokespeople provided the following statement to RT.com on Wednesday:

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe.

“We do not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we cooperate fully with all criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, whether it occurs on or off-duty.

“An investigation of the hazing allegations is ongoing, led by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General with the assistance of the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility.”

If true, the accusations definitely constitute “sexual violence,” according to Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

“Hazing and sexual violence undoubtedly co-occur, but what is being reported by agents at the Newark Airport should be investigated as sexual abuse,” Teffenhart said. “At its core, sexual violence is about power and control – both of which appear to be in play in this situation.”

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