POSTED: Friday, April 27, 2012 - 9:00am
UPDATED: Friday, April 27, 2012 - 9:04am
NBC NATIONAL NEWS — Cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana were allowed to pass security checkpoints at LAX in a bribery scheme that led to the arrests of two former and two current Transportation Security Administration employees, according to authorities.
Undercover agents posing as couriers made contact with the screeners through social media, said Jose Martinez, spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Agency.
"They would allow us access into the internal security of the airport, so we could smuggle drugs," Martinez said.
The screeners were accused of allowing large amounts of cocaine and other drugs to pass through X-ray machines at security checkpoints in exchange for payments of up to $2,400, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The indictment cites five incidents in which the employees allowed suitcases filled with drugs to pass X-ray machines at security checkpoints.
The scheme occurred over a six month period last year, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
One drug courier is already in custody in connection with the case, according to authorities.