3 World Trade Center Workers Face Drug Charges
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Three World Trade Center construction workers have been charged with possessing and selling marijuana at the site in Lower Manhattan.
The arrests Friday are part of a seven-month investigation by the site's integrity monitor and the Port Authority inspector general.
The investigation began after "one of our integrity monitors on the hub project one day got a strong odor of marijuana," said Port Authority Deputy Inspector General Mike Nestor.
3 World Trade Center Workers Face Drug Charges
Nestor said detectives made several undercover drug buys from the three workers.
Drug Charges For WTC Construction Workers
Brian McDermott, 34, of Brooklyn; John Fama 30 of Jersey City, N.J.; and Cesar Rivera, 25 of the Bronx were arrested Friday morning as they arrived for work, 1010 WINS' Eileen Lehpamer reported.
Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye said such behavior won't be tolerated.
"There is no place at the World Trade Center site for those who want to use or sell illegal drugs thereby endangering their co-workers and the public," Foye stated.
He said anybody who tries to get away with it will be caught, prosecuted and "permanently tossed off the site.''
WCBS 880's Marla Diamond spoke with several hard hats who said they were surprised and enforcement is not lax there.
"The opposite. Absolute opposite," one said.
"They break your chops for not even wearing safety glasses," another said. "Forget about drinking or smoking on the job."
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