Dozens Of Airport Workers Arrested

(CBS) Federal authorities Tuesday rounded up 94 workers at Washington-area airports on a variety of charges from illegal immigration to lying about a criminal background, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced. þþThe arrests at Dulles and Reagan National airports were part of a continuing post-Sept. 11 crackdown by U.S. law enforcement and transportation authorities on airport security lapses. þþAshcroft said the workers allegedly gained access to secure areas of the airports ÿby lying on security applications,ÿ using false Social Security numbers or committing ÿvarious immigration frauds.ÿ þþÿThere will be zero tolerance of security breaches at our nation's airports,ÿ Aschroft said. þþCBS News Correspondent Stephanie Lambidakis reports most of those arrested are Hispanic and none are being charged with terrorism-related offenses. þþTuesday's operation was a joint effort that included the FBI, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, federal prosecutors and the Transportation Department's inspector general. þþSimilar arrests have occurred in recent weeks in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and San Francisco. In all, about 400 workers have been arrested since Sept. 11, including those on Tuesday, officials said. þþThe investigation, called Operation Tarmac, had spread to 10 airports before Tuesday's arrests. þþMany of those arrested Tuesday were illegal aliens and could be deported; others face prison terms or fines of up to $250,000, officials said. þþMost of the workers arrested had security badges allowing them to get onto planes, ramps, runways and cargo areas, law enforcement officials said. They were employed by private companies, such as those that clean the airplanes or operate airport restaurants. þþWhile law enforcement officials said none of those arrested have been linked to terrorism, some aviation experts said the workers were in a position to help smuggle bombs or weapons aboard aircraft. þþU.S. authorities believe that the Sept. 11 hijackers carried knives and box cutters past security checkpoints and there was no evidence that the weapons were put on board by rogue employees, a law enforcement official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. þ