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TIA Police Arrest 3 Baggage Handlers

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

From left: Mug shots of Efrain Malave-Bermudez, 34, Ernie Azucey, 23, and Juan Ayende-Nieves, 52.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 30, 2008

Updated: 03/30/2008 08:27 pm

TAMPA -- Airport police arrested three baggage handlers Friday on charges of dealing in stolen property pilfered from Continental Airlines luggage checked at Tampa International Airport.

Among the electronics airport police recovered were laptop computers, digital cameras, cell phones, iPods, a GPS device and headphones.

All three work for Delta Global Services, a company contracted to handle baggage for Continental, arrest reports state.

The three were traced through a rigged laptop computer loaded into luggage March 12 on a Continental flight to Houston.

Continental's security had the laptop loaded with software that would track any activity on the computer if it was turned on. The computer never made it to Houston, reports state.

On Tuesday, someone turned on the computer and accessed a MySpace account, and the software gave investigators images of what the user viewed while logged on.

The computer was turned on again Wednesday and Thursday. Police were able to trace the computer to a woman who said she got it from one of the baggage handlers who bought it for $350.

An arrest report said one of the men told investigators he bought laptops for $60, iPods for $10 and digital cameras for $50.

Airport police released no further details Sunday.

"It is an ongoing investigation," airport spokeswoman Kelly Figley said.

Arrested were Efrain Malave-Bermudez Jr., 34, 6720 S. Lois Ave., on seven counts of dealing in stolen property; Juan Ayende-Nieves, 52, 2004 E. Lake Ave., on four counts of dealing in stolen property; and Ernie Azucey, 23, 8510 Hyaleah Road, on 33 counts of dealing in stolen property.

Azucey is being held in Orient Road Jail, with bail set at $247,500. Malave-Bermudez's bail is $52,500, jail records show.

Ayende-Nieves was released after posting $30,000 bail.

The electronics that were seized include six laptop computers, nine digital cameras and three cell phones. Police also recovered nine pairs of sunglasses.

The report says investigators are trying to contact the owners of the items.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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