
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, published a report on Monday highlighting the loopholes that drug traffickers are taking advantage of in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) registration process in order to expand their operations.
In a press release about the report, Grassley explained that law-abiding Americans “rely on the Federal Aviation Administration to provide smooth transport from point A to point B” — but “criminals are taking advantage of the system to transport illicit goods and make a profit.”
Drugs like fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, are responsible for the majority of overdose deaths in the United States — and most of that fentanyl is trafficked into the country by Mexican drug cartels through the southern border, though there is likely more being flown into the country thanks to the FAA’s lax rules.
Did you know that in 2022 the DEA seized enough fentanyl to kill every American?
Did you know that Mexican cartels are responsible for trafficking most of the fentanyl into the US?
This is what fentanyl is doing to our cities:#confrontthecartels #BidenBorderCrisis pic.twitter.com/YdAupooVEV
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 17, 2023
Grassley called out the FAA for allowing the system to be misused.
“The FAA’s stubborn habit of rubber stamping registrants leaves the door open for drug traffickers and would-be terrorists to wreak havoc in the U.S. and abroad,” he wrote. FAA’s failure is contributing to the drug crisis, burdening law enforcement and creating a major national security risk.”
“I’ll be pushing to hold the FAA accountable and advocating for a legislative solution to put a stop to this,” the Republican senator added.
In the report, Grassley highlighted how cartels use the FAA’s process to register American planes via shell companies and non-citizen trusts — then use those planes for drug trafficking.
Grassley further explained that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had previously issued a report in 2020 that outlined 15 recommendations that the FAA could use to improve its processes — but the FAA has only implemented three of those recommendations since the report came out.
Accurate registration information for civil aircraft—like private planes—can help combat crimes such as drug trafficking. But FAA may not verify ownership info, leaving registration vulnerable to fraud & abuse.
GAO’s Rebecca Shea testifies today at 2 pm: https://t.co/AN1mYeBgsc pic.twitter.com/jYGIJSkpPk
— U.S. GAO (@USGAO) April 9, 2024
“Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) often use opaque corporate structures to conceal their drug transportation activities. Air transportation is a favored method for the cartels and a burgeoning industry of illicit aircraft brokers has grown up around it,” the Senate report stated. “These brokers exploit vulnerabilities and loopholes in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) aircraft registry process to place U.S.-registered planes in the hands of TCOs.”
“U.S. planes are desirable because they receive less scrutiny from foreign governments and are better at concealing criminal activity,” the report continued. “The FAA registry is supposed to serve as a source of information for agencies responsible for homeland security, but blind spots in the FAA registration process create serious security risks.”