Thursday, October 24, 2019
According to media reports, four American Airlines flight attendants have been arrested at Miami International Airport on Monday on money laundering charges.
The arrested employees were carrying more than $22,000 in cash without the proper license after arriving on an incoming flight from Chile when they were stopped by customs and border patrol agents.
One American Airlines employee told a customs and border patrol agent that he was carrying $100 before changing his statement to reveal he had $9,000 when he was questioned further.
The agent alerted other officials who found more flight attendants from the same plane carrying large amounts of money with them.
In a statement provided to the media on Wednesday by American Airlines spokesperson Ross Feinstein, the airline confirmed an investigation but did not give details.
“We take this matter seriously and are cooperating with law enforcement throughout their investigation,” the statement read.
Chile saw protests break out this weekend over economic inequality. The protests continued into the week despite President Sebastián Piñera cancelling a subway fare hike that prompted the violent demonstrations.
Recent unrest in the country has caused the Chilean peso to decrease in value.
Authorities said 10,500 soldiers and police officers were patrolling the streets in Santiago, the country’s capital, as state of emergency and curfew remained in effect for six Chilean cities.
