Two Brazilian women were arrested in Frankfurt, Germany, accused of international drug trafficking, after 40 kilograms of cocaine were found in their luggage by German authorities. They were traveling from São Paulo to Berlin on vacation. It was proven, however, that both were victims of a gang of traffickers operating at Guarulhos Airport, who swapped passengers’ bags for others filled with drugs.
As widely reported by Brazilian newspapers and news programs, an operation to combat this gang, possibly led by the criminal organization PCC, arrested several people working at the airport who had been recruited by the traffickers.
The two Brazilians, Kátyna Baía and Jeanne Paolini, were imprisoned for more than a month until the German justice system was informed and received evidence of their innocence. A release order was issued this Tuesday (11).
In light of such a frightening case, frequent travelers wonder how to keep their luggage safe.
In an interview with the newspaper O Globo, security consultant Jefferson Barbosa from the Civil Aviation Security Intelligence (InAVSEC) presented a series of measures that passengers can take to enhance the security of their bags.
Check it out:
• Always choose luggage that is not designer, which does not attract attention due to its brand or high value, as this can be a reason for theft and violations.
• Organize your belongings inside the luggage. Everything that is important or has high value should be hidden at the bottom of the bag, which can prevent these items from going missing in case of theft.
• It is good to take photos of the items organized inside the bag before closing it. This way, if someone tampers with it (removes or adds items), the photos can prove how it was before.
• Put something on the outside of the luggage that identifies it as yours: a sticker, a ribbon, a card, etc. This way, it will be more easily identified, which prevents someone from taking it and makes it easier in case it gets lost.
• Throughout the journey, from home until the moment the bag is checked in, never abandon it or leave it “unattended”.
• A lock is important. However, there are bags that can be opened and then closed again, even with a lock. One way to make this violation more difficult is to wrap the bag in plastic or with a security cover.
• When checking in the luggage, you should record its weight. If something is placed inside it, you can find out without even opening it.
• When you have a connection, always check if your bags have been tampered with — if you have access to them at that moment.
• Repeat this action when picking up the bags on the carousel at your final destination. If it has been rummaged through, swapped, or if there is something that is not yours inside, you should call a staff member of the airline or a police officer and inform them of the issue.
Source: O Globo
Original text: http://bit.ly/3KSupOD