British company workers 'stole baggage in US'
A British baggage-handling company today said an internal investigation was under way after five of its US employees were arrested over the alleged theft of more than 150 pieces of luggage.
London-based Menzies Aviation said it was co-operating fully with authorities in Texas investigating accusations of organised criminal activity at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Police were called on December 26, when workers at a pet shop noticed 68 pieces of luggage abandoned in their industrial waste bin.
Officers said the bags appeared to have been picked over, and any valuables had been stolen.
Another 90 pieces of luggage were found abandoned at two undisclosed locations this weekend, Houston Police Captain Rick Bownds said. Twin brothers Manuel and Ricardo Aguilar, 23; Carlos Osorio, 24; Erick Perez, 29; and Daniel Venegas, 26 this week, were arrested.
The luggage was stolen from “virtually every airline” operating at the airport, Captain Bownds said.
“Menzies Aviation are aware that following an incident at George Bush International Airport a number of our employees have been arrested by local police,” a statement from the company said.
“At this time we are fully co-operating with the authorities and as such cannot comment in specific detail.
“An internal investigation is underway.”
Menzies contracts to run baggage handling for connecting flights across the US.
Capt. Bownds said the firm had been “completely co-operative” in the investigation, which shows that the alleged operation did not extend outside Houston.
