The Nation : Eastern Fined for 2nd Cocaine Seizure

The U.S. Customs Service, in the second such action against Eastern Airlines in as many weeks, fined the airline $1,088,000 after agents found 68 pounds of cocaine aboard a jetliner earlier this week. Eastern was forced last week to post a $900,320 letter of credit to win release of an Eastern L-1011 aircraft seized by Customs agents after 56 pounds of cocaine were found in a mailbag on the jetliner. Customs levied the fine after agents discovered 68 pounds of cocaine aboard Eastern Flight 972, which arrived in Miami from Colombia. The drug was inside a box of coffee not reported on the flight’s cargo list, Customs said. “We intend to protest the fine,” Eastern spokeswoman Karen Ceremsak said. “We believe we have one of the most comprehensive and dedicated programs” to prevent drugs from being transported on international flights. Customs did not seize the Boeing 727 because Eastern “appears to be making serious efforts to improve its security measures against drug smuggling,” Customs said in a statement.