Gangs: airports as the battleground Gangs; they cause chaos worldwide. Their activities range from petty crime and disruption to high profile criminal activities. Transnational gangs are the ultimate entrepreneurs, relentless in conducting their business and harder to control the more lucrative and powerful they become. They fill the gap in the global supply of illegal goods and services, operating a parallel economy, which does not abide by national or international laws and regulations but by their own customs, and ones which can adapt and change rapidly. Those who run and coordinate high- profile gang activities constantly push to stay one step ahead of the law and employ a plethora of approaches to conducting their enterprises and preventing recognisable patterns in their activities. These groups pose a great challenge for the airports that become their targets or the grounds upon which they carry out their business. But, how do gangs use airports, what can be learnt from their activities at airports over the last few years and what should our takeaways be regarding how these diverse groups are dealt with? Lucy Rawlings explores.

"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." Sun Tzu, The Art of War

n trying to better understand the challenges they pose, there is a gangster Antoine Quilichini, also known our enemy, it does not help that need to consider the many ways in as 'Tony the Butcher', at Airport Ithere is no universal definition of which airports become the sites for in December 2017. Quilichini had been a 'gang' and, to make matters worse, their endeavours. convicted in 2016 of conspiring to these organised criminals often fight a cousin of the Corsican mafia to ensure that they do not conform GANG-ON-GANG VIOLENCE boss, Jean-Baptiste Jerome Colonna, to many aspects of these varying in 2016. It was believed Quilichini's definitions, meaning they are less In March 2009, a Hells Angels murder was in retaliation. likely to be identified. It is, however, Motorcycle Club associate, Anthony in common agreement that gangs Zervas, 29, was killed during a huge "...on 14 January, a Turkish are a 'group of persons working to brawl with the Comancheros, a rival unlawful or antisocial ends' and whose club, at Sydney Airport's domestic Airlines crew became the members collectively identify with terminal, one of Australia's most target of an attack while one another and meet on a recurring monitored and secure public spaces. basis – although physical meetings The confrontation between the gangs their shuttle bus was are becoming less frequent with was said to have occurred following an waiting at the traffic lights in technological advancements and the encounter between the Comancheros' use of encrypted messenger services. leader and a Hells Angels boss on Johannesburg..." As gangs evolve and adapt to ensure a flight from Melbourne. In the their longevity and profitability, the subsequent court case it was reported ways in which airports deal with them that there had been a flurry of messages GANGS TARGETING THE AIRPORT must also evolve, and coordination and and phone calls from the leaders to AND PASSENGERS information sharing between aviation other associates as soon as the plane security, law enforcement agencies had landed. The tensions between the Johannesburg’s OR Tambo and government intelligence services Angels and Comancheros at this time International Airport suffers from is vital. But not all gangs consist of was high following the bombing of recurring spates of airport high-profile, organised criminals, and one of the Angels' clubhouses earlier orchestrated by gangs targeting airports and everyday travellers are not in the month. people leaving the airport. In the always the intended targets. To better It was tit-for-tat gang violence that past, robbers have frequently used understand how to manage gangs and also led to the shooting of Corsican blue lights and shown fake police

20 February/March 2019 Aviation Security International "...tit-for-tat gang violence also led to the shooting of Corsican gangster Antoine Quilichini, also known as 'Tony the Butcher', at Bastia Airport in December 2017..." identification in order to pull over cars they followed leaving the airport. Victims were then intimidated and stripped of their possessions. During 2013, over 200 cases were reported, decreasing to about five per month following the involvement of the Antoine Quilichini, aka 'Tony the Butcher', was killed at a Bastia Airport in Corsica in 2017 National Investigating Unit. The unit, in conjunction with airport and local police, intensified their intelligence groups are taking up these activities of goods passing through Viracopos gathering and began to profile all the time as they are perceived to be Airport has increased – raising its suspects and their vehicles, enabling fairly low risk. The move to attacking profile as a target. A major heist them to make more arrests and people at home has also followed occurred in 2018 when five armed providing a deterrent for these gangs. from the police crackdown on cash-in- gang members drove vehicles painted Since the start of 2019, however, transit heists. to resemble airport security pick- there has been an upsurge in these Viracopos International Airport in up trucks onto the tarmac, parking kinds of attacks, now with victims São Paulo is frequently the target of next to a Lufthansa plane from which frequently being followed home where robberies, muggings, carjackings and employees were transferring bags gang members are able to retrieve carried out by gangs. of cash into an armoured vehicle. even more bounty. On 14 January, The highway that leads to the airport Following a swift looting, the gang a Turkish Airlines crew became the is notorious for crime as gangs target made away with approximately US target of an attack while their shuttle vehicles transporting merchandise $5,000,000 (c.£3,500,000). No arrests bus was waiting at the traffic lights and, in 2017, 10,500 such freight were made following this and the in Johannesburg, and other victims were recorded across São Paulo. In complexity of the heist demonstrates were followed home in various attacks recent years, many companies have, the ability of organised criminals to throughout the month. These kinds of as a result, chosen to send shipments carefully plan and coordinate high- attack are a gang favourite and new via plane, and the volume and value profile attacks.

Rebels bikies were removed from a Qantas flight bound for Melbourne from Hobart in 2017

February/March 2019 Aviation Security International EUR +44 (0)20 3892 3050 USA +1 920 214 0140 www.asi-mag.com 21 “…two members of the Rebels, the pair were not violent and no one ensuring that background checks are an Australian motorcycle was harmed, but could this have been conducted into all employees, that all a different case had the crew not acted employees undergo security screening gang, were removed from to remove them? before and after shifts, and that staff a Qantas flight bound for working across the airport are trained THE INSIDER THREAT to be vigilant and observant of each Melbourne from Hobart…” other’s behaviours, and any concerns The insider threat has gained a huge are reported. USING AIRPORTS FOR amount of attention in recent years and One example of gang activities DRUG TRAFFICKING gangs have used insiders working in a within a contracted baggage company variety of positions across the airport hit the news in the USA when an Drug seizures at airports are unending to gain information and access. Insiders Alaskan Airlines jet suffered from and the high volumes of various drugs in operating X-ray machines have allowed decompression during flight. Upon circulation in regions which don't even bags containing various contraband to landing, investigators discovered produce or grow them is a testament pass through; baggage handlers have that a luggage loading conveyor belt to the ingenuity of transnational drug willingly loaded bags filled with drugs had been driven into the side of the gangs. With drug smuggling onto aircraft; and catering staff have plane next to the cargo doors and being so lucrative, gangs become delivered trolleys with illicit contents the baggage hold was covered in protective of their 'patch' or routes and to aircraft. The list goes on and the graffiti affiliated with both the Crips when rivals try to compete, violence fact is that any insider has the ability to and Bloods – two notorious rival becomes the natural option. compromise the security of the airport. gangs. It was later determined that In July 2014, two people were killed Thirteen members of a trafficking gang the airline had recently replaced its and six injured in a drive-by shooting were sentenced in London in April 2018 professional baggage handlers, who at Curaçao International Airport. for their roles in smuggling £16,000,000 were employees of the airline, for a The shooting was connected with an worth of drugs, predominantly cocaine less expensive contractor. According ongoing war between rival drug gangs and marijuana, into Heathrow Airport. to other airline employees, many of as Curaçao is a key drug trafficking Two of the men involved worked at the newly contracted staff looked, export point for narcotics bound for the airport as baggage handlers where spoke and acted in ways associated Europe from . One they moved suitcases flown from Brazil with the gangs. This begs the of the men killed, Jais Juliana, was onto carousels for UK domestic arrivals question, who ran background checks the boss of a criminal gang and where other members of the gang on these individuals and who was smuggling ring. collected them. They were arrested responsible for supervising them as following an 18-month investigation by they worked? Additionally, although CAUSING DISRUPTION IN-FLIGHT the National Crime Agency. the criminal damage cost the airline a A major security concern surrounds large amount and, thankfully, nobody In October 2017, two members of the the outsourcing of roles, which allow was harmed, this is not to say in the Rebels, an Australian motorcycle gang, direct access to baggage, aircraft and future that groups with similar access were removed from a Qantas flight passengers to external companies, would not be able to cause greater bound for Melbourne from Hobart. The particularly when the contract is simply damage. If gangs are able to deface pilot had reported that the 'bikies' had awarded to the contractor offering baggage holds, cause damage been causing "fear and apprehension" the lowest cost but not necessarily to the aircraft exterior without it onboard as well as behaving in an the most thorough security checks being noticed and smuggle drugs intimidating way towards the airline's nor the most professionally trained so efficiently, who is to say that next staff. Four other people connected to employees. This is not to say, however, time the damage may not be greater the Rebels also departed the plane. It that contracted companies are to or that it will not be explosives that was not possible to press charges as blame; airports need to be vigilant in are loaded onto the aircraft?

MS13 gang activity is a major concern for airport security management

22 February/March 2019 Aviation Security International “…the baggage hold was types of gang activities are more common Lucy Rawlings holds covered in graffiti affiliated with at certain airports or in certain regions. a master’s degree As such, each airport must ensure that in Globalisation and both the Crips and Bloods…” they know and understand their enemy Development from and know themselves, as well as those SOAS, University of working within their parameters, as well London. She is an GANGS – THE FUTURE? as the local law enforcement agencies employee of Green and intelligence services they must work Light Ltd., a London-based aviation Rapid technological developments have alongside. Additionally, airports must security training and consultancy had a huge impact on aviation security continue to encourage staff to report any company and is the events manager over the last couple of decades. But, as unusual activity or behaviour they witness for Behavioural Analysis 2019 and much as technology can greatly enhance and openly express any concerns about DISPAX World 2019. Contact: security procedures, we are fully aware colleagues or travellers. [email protected] that it also comes with challenges. As security pushes for the right to hold more data on travellers in order to assess individuals' threat levels, we also ENABLING make ourselves a greater target for cybercrime, and cyber gangs are capable YOU TO of causing huge disruption and damage. Groups such as LulzSec have managed ® to hack, disrupt and retrieve data from T.R.A.P. government authorities, the FBI, and media outlets such as PBS and Fox, THE THREAT as well as Sony Pictures Entertainment from whom the information of millions of customers was stolen. Other cyber gangs such as the Syrian Electronic Army work to take control of government sites, systems and computers to send political messages. If airports are frequently targeted by protesters as a stage for a global audience to hear their political views, then what better target for cyber hackers wishing for their messages to be heard? Gangs using drones to disrupt law enforcement and transport drugs has Some call it become increasingly commonplace. Drones offer gangs the ability to carry ‘behavioural analysis’, others out a number of activities remotely, ‘behaviour detection’. Some decreasing the risk of getting caught call it ‘differentiation’, others and making the perpetrators difficult to track down. Gatwick Airport was use the term ‘profiling’. brought to a standstill on 19 December Green Light’s solution 2018 following multiple reports of drones flying close to the runway and is called Tactical Risk delays were caused at Heathrow on 9 Assessment of People, January due to a drone sighting. The in short: T.R.A.P.® perpetrators of these incidents have not yet been caught. Common sense-based security which empowers both security CONCLUSION and non-security personnel We have seen that there are numerous to focus on people and ways in which gangs carry out their situations that demand activities at airports and that each gang further investigation. may have different modus operandi. They are constantly coming up with new angles, and potential cyber and technological threats are ones we are going to have to consider more in the WWW.GLTRAP.COM future. It is clear, though, that certain

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