Two Delta Airlines ramp agents, Leandro Alleyne and Fabian Innis, were arrested on September 19 for smuggling over $3 million worth of ketamine through John F. Kennedy International Airport. Authorities apprehended them after noticing suspicious luggage from a flight arriving from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Fabian Innis admitted to authorities that he had participated in similar smuggling operations with Alleyne multiple times in the past, estimating around five to ten instances. While he acknowledged that the bags contained illegal substances, he claimed he didn’t know it was ketamine. Innis further revealed that his payments ranged between $4,000 and $5,000 per flight.
Both Alleyne and Innis pleaded not guilty to the charges of drug importation and smuggling. They were released on a $50,000 bond each, pending further legal proceedings.
The smuggled ketamine drew extra attention due to its link to the death of *Friends* star Matthew Perry, who tragically passed away on October 28, 2023, after a fatal ketamine overdose in his home.
Court documents revealed that the agents were caught removing backpacks and suitcases from Flight 219 and transporting them to a secluded part of the airport tarmac. Suspicious of their actions, authorities moved in and found 134 pounds of ketamine in the luggage, which was worth approximately $3 million on the street.
Further investigation revealed that the suitcases had tags bearing names of passengers from the flight. Officials suspect that Alleyne and Innis were part of a larger smuggling ring, possibly an “inside job,” according to sources cited by The New York Post.
Delta Airlines responded to the arrests, stating that the agents had “no legitimate reason” to handle the luggage and emphasized that the company has “zero tolerance for unlawful conduct.”
Authorities, including Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan, are now focusing on where the ketamine was being transported. Brennan highlighted that understanding the destination of the drug would have a significant impact on addressing the larger issue affecting the community.
