WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, today released a report examining how loopholes in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) registration process are abused by drug cartels and other bad actors to enhance the global drug trade and threaten our national security.  
 
“While Americans rely on the Federal Aviation Administration to provide smooth transport from point A to point B, criminals are taking advantage of the system to transport illicit goods and make a profit. The FAA’s stubborn habit of rubber stamping registrants leaves the door open for drug traffickers and would-be terrorists to wreak havoc in the U.S. and abroad. FAA’s failure is contributing to the drug crisis, burdening law enforcement and creating a major national security risk,” Grassley said. “I’ll be pushing to hold the FAA accountable and advocating for a legislative solution to put a stop to this abuse.”
 
Findings of the report:
  • FAA’s lax registration process allows criminals, disguised by shell companies and noncitizen trusts, to register U.S. planes, which cartels often use to transport and deliver illicit drugs.
  • The FAA has been slow to shore up its registration process. A 2020 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report recommended FAA take 15 actions to resolve its vulnerabilities. To date, FAA has only implemented three of the 15 recommendations.
  • GAO’s outstanding recommendations to FAA include basic fixes, such as:
    • Expanded information sharing from registrants;
    • Verification of applicants’ information and eligibility;
    • Improved data collection and analysis of FAA registrants and aircraft owners; and
    • Enhanced coordination with law enforcement.
Read the full report HERE.
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