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OSI-96-4R 1 (1996-01-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaclar0001 and id is 1 raw text is: United States GAO1~ General Accounting Office Washington, D.C. 20548 Office of Special Investigations B-260331 January 17, 1996 The Honorable James M. Inhofe United States Senate Dear Senator Inhofe: While the Ranking Minority Member of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, House Committee on Public Works and Transportation (now the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure), you requested that we investigate allegations that federal law enforcement officials in South Florida, engaged in drug interdiction efforts, had knowingly permitted illegal alterations to general aviation aircraft. They then allegedly allowed unsafe aircraft to be reintroduced into general aviation. As agreed with members of the Subcommittee staff, we concentrated our efforts on the Miami-based office of the U.S. Customs Service. On October 31, 1995, we briefed a member of your staff and the Committee staff and agreed to provide you this letter summarizing our findings. In summary, we found no evidence that Customs special agents knowingly permitted illegal alterations and subsequently allowed the reintroduction of unsafe aircraft into general aviation. We did learn that during certain undercover operations, Customs special agents ordered fixed-base operators (FBO)--individuals who lease aircraft to Customs under personal assistance agreements'--to change the visual identity of aircraft and to make certain modifications needed to complete undercover narcotics operations. These changes (such as changing tail numbers and data plates) and modifications (such as modifying or adding equipment like fuel tanks and cargo doors) were directed pursuant to Customs' authority to conduct undercover operations under 19 U.S.C. 2081. According to Customs special agents, oral instructions were given to the FBOs, following the completion of the operations, to return 'Customs handled FBO leasing arrangements through oral or written personal assistance agreements. Customs' payment under such agreements was intended to cover all expenses related to the operation itself, identity changes to the aircraft, and returning the aircraft to its original condition. However, the agreements contain no language that ensures that changes to an aircraft are reversed. GAO/OSI-96-4R Allegations Concerning Customs Flight Safety

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