Arrests Reveal Security Breakdown At Shipping Port
ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) -- Authorities said the East Coast's largest waterfront shipping port has experienced a security breach as eight dock workers have been charged in New York with cocaine trafficking and another was charged in a stock fraud scheme.
Authorities said the arrests of the longshoremen who work at the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal in Elizabeth, N.J. on Tuesday was part of a prosecution that resulted in 22 arrests in all.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said the investigation revealed a flaw in security at one of the most important hubs for commerce and trade in the world. He said the longshoremen made up to $100,000 for offloading a single duffle bag of cocaine.
In all, authorities seized cocaine worth more than $34 million.
The identities of the lawyers for those arrested were not immediately available.
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