(CMR) A man flew from Barbados to Miami, Florida on a commercial flight with a loaded 32-caliber firearm in the plane's cabin – a gun which he claims he was in his pants pocket as he passed through security checkpoints in Bridgetown, Barbados. The incident has left many questioning how this was permitted on an international flight into the United States in light of post 9/11 security measures.
The TSA has launched a full investigation into what is being termed a serious security lapse. Hinds was taken to Miami-Dade jail and charged with carrying a concealed weapon — a felony. Hinds entered a not guilty plea and was scheduled for a court hearing Friday.
NBC 6 news investigators revealed the details of the incident on Thursday noting that Cameron Hinds was stopped at a Miami International Airport checkpoint and Miami-Dade Police take him into custody. The TSA officers found a loaded handgun in his belongings.
Their report revealed that the revolver had five rounds of live ammunition in it and passed through security with the firearm in his pants pocket where he boarded American Airlines flight 1089. During the four-hour trip his Ruger revolver was with him the entire time. The TSA notified authorities in Barbados of the security lapse at the Grantley Adams International airport, where Hinds took off from.
Barbados' Consul General to Miami claims the revolver went undetected because it was under a laptop which was not removed from its bag and that the authorities in Barbados are taking steps to ensure it does not happen again. They are now retraining staff at Grantley.
US authorities believe that the Caribbean and Latin America pose a particular threat to American security:
“Security experts say terrorists groups continue to target passenger aircrafts as they pursue new attack methods, and there’s always a concern that Latin America and the Caribbean could be a launching point for those looking to do harm in the U.S. That threat is one of the reasons why security officials are so troubled by the failure in Barbados.”
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