Dozens arrested in drug raid at Pa. Boeing plant

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: AP

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Federal agents raided a Boeing plant that makes military helicopters in suburban Philadelphia on Thursday and charged more than three dozen people with distributing or trying to get prescription drugs, powerful painkillers among them.

The arrests were made by the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration at the 5,400-employee plant in Ridley Park, where workers build aircraft including the H-47 Chinook helicopter and the V-22 Osprey. The plant, part of Boeing's Defense, Space and Security unit, is also the headquarters for its Rotorcraft division.
It did not appear to be an organized drug ring, but rather a "nebulous" series of independent actors, authorities said.

"These sales placed the individual abusers, as well as society at large, at risk," said DEA agent Vito S. Guarino.
All but one of the 37 people charged were current or former Boeing employees, U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger said at a news conference. He did not know what kind of jobs they had and said he wasn't aware of any accidents or problems involving aircraft made by the suspects.

Indictments were unsealed charging 23 people with illegal distribution of a prescription drug, federal prosecutors said. In addition, 14 others were charged with attempted possession of the various drugs — including the painkillers fentanyl, oxycodone and others — allegedly being sold by their co-workers. Prosecutors said all but one of those charged had been arrested, but declined to comment on the status of the 37th.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/dozens-arrested-drug-raid-pa-boeing-plant-153812982.html

[ret5hd]

1. Status of the 37th? Probably narc.

just sayin'.

[monmouth]

2. Have a DUI in your background check from 20 years ago,no job.

What's with drug testing, especially for jobs like this? Were these people sub-contractors? Even then, they should be tested. Oh wait....it's the poor souls on welfare who need the drug testing and those collecting unemployment..My bad..

[leveymg]

3. Probably not a very fun place to work, anyway.

This whole thing pretty much embodies a lot of what's wrong with America, today.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. I noticed it was anti depressants, pain killers and speed

Not one mention of pot but they probably screen for that.

[leveymg]

6. You picked up on that, too? So many different kinds of pain killers.

Working conditions must be horrible -- highly rigid work rules, constant monitoring and draconian consequences for deviation -- no wonder these guys needed to boost their metabolism and ended up hurting a lot.

[DocMac]

8. I thought the same thing.

Manufacturing plants can be back breaking work. They might even be on 12 hour shifts.

Try going to a Dr. and ask for pain meds. I had a Dr. tell me once to pray more. No lie.

I could drink myself to death in one night, but don't allow me any pain meds for my back.

Constant prohibition!!

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

5. most likely Boeing located there to avoid paying

decent wages (as they do in Seattle). Is Pa a right to work for less state?

Mandatory overtime (speed), long hours standing on concrete doing intense labor (painkillers) and a $12.00 an hour job. I am not surprised.

I am not defending them or saying drug taking on the job is ok, it is just that I am not surprised.

[SpiralHawk]

7. That's what happens when Rush 'DraftDodger' Limbaugh (R) is your role model

[IamK]

9. Among those arrested was a former union president ....

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/130826198.html?cmpid=15585797

A woman who answered the phone at United Auto Workers Local 1069, which represents about 2,000 employees at the plant, said the union had no comment. Among those arrested was a former union president, Michael Patterson, 53, of Eddystone, charged with attempted possession of oxycodone and fentanyl, also a painkiller. He could not be reached for comment.

snip
Twenty-three were charged with felony distribution or attempted distribution of real drugs to their fellow employees in amounts ranging from a few dozen pills to 1,500 doses