Hunt for Drug Smugglers Leads to Suspected Airport Luggage Thieves

Detectives who thought they were trailing international drug smugglers stumbled instead upon a ring they believe stole more than 100 pieces of luggage from travelers at Burbank Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and elsewhere, Glendale police said Wednesday.

Narcotics officers who were following two men in a drug investigation--in response to a tip--arrested them Tuesday after seeing the men snatch a suitcase from an outdoor baggage carousel at Burbank Airport.

After securing a search warrant, they entered one suspect’s Glendale apartment and found it filled with what appeared to be stolen luggage, from steamer trunks to briefcases, the detectives said.

“It was packed up fairly well,” said Lt. Don MacNeil, a Glendale police narcotics supervisor. “After 15 minutes everybody stopped and said, ‘Wait a minute. This isn’t dope!’ ”

He said officers were startled but not displeased by the find. “In this line of work, we don’t look at it as a mistake,” MacNeil said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Glendale officers put the seized baggage and its contents on display, filling several tables with clothing, cameras, purses, electronic devices, credit cards, travelers’ checks and jewelry.

“It looks like a super rummage sale,” one officer remarked.

The loot included half a dozen national sports championship rings--including those of the New York Mets and a pro football team--but officers said they did not know whether the rings were authentic or replicas.

Luggage tags from Los Angeles International Airport and seized currency from Israel, Brazil, Japan and India led investigators to believe that international travelers were the prime targets, perhaps on the belief that foreign visitors carry more valuables or are less likely to report a loss, police speculated. Glendale officers said they will try to identify the owners and, if possible, return the belongings.

“Our suspicion is that this has been taking place for a number of years,” MacNeil said. “We have appointment books that date back to 1989.”

He said the suspected thieves wore business attire, allowing them to blend in with the real airline passengers.

Arrested at Burbank Airport were Jorge Castillo, 43, and Benito Filemon Maya, 48. A third suspect, Ruth Romero, 32, was arrested in Glendale. Police said Maya and Romero live at the Glendale apartment where the luggage was seized. Officers said Castillo’s address was not immediately known.

The three, held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grand theft, receiving stolen property and burglary, were taken to Glendale City Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail each. Maya was transferred to the jail ward at County-USC Medical Center on Wednesday because of a heart ailment, police said.

Glendale officers said they were uncertain how some of the bags were stolen from Los Angeles Airport, where travelers must show a claim check before leaving. Such security measures are not used at Burbank Airport, which handled 3.5 million passengers last year.

“Historically, it’s been judged by the airlines to be a low risk, compared to other airports,” Burbank Airport spokesman Victor Gill said Wednesday. “So they do not staff the luggage area with personnel who verify claim checks.”

Gill said the discovery of the luggage theft ring may prompt the airlines to step up security in Burbank.