Two workers at the Port of New Jersey in Elizabeth were arrested Wednesday on charges they tried to help a drug gang smuggle tons of cocaine into the region.
One of the men, Dominic Guido, is a longshoreman who allegedly used his clearance privileges to help secretly unload huge amounts of cocaine hidden inside shipping containers.
Drug Enforcement Agents said Guido was willing to cut the locks off the containers while they were in secure areas in order to unload the drugs for the drug crew. He allegedly gave members of the drug gang access to secure areas of the port as well.
"Longshoremen serve as the key gatekeepers for our ports and our borders," said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
Also arrested was Robert Roselli, who works for a private firm that helps unload ships at the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal.
A lawyer for Guido said his client is innnocent.
“We deny the charges in the complaint and intend to vigorously defend them,” said attorney Harlan Protassa
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New York DEA Director John Gilbride said the drug shipments were tracked back to Puerto Rico and the investigation is ongoing.
Gilbride warned that such corruption of port security places "public safety in jeopardy."
Immigration and Customs enforcement agents helped set up a sting to catch the men allegedly unloading 20 kilos of cocaine from a ship that arrived on April 22.
Several local chapters of the International Longshoreman's Association have been linked to organized crime and racketeering activity. Officials would not say if they believe Roselli or Guido are linked to the mafia.
Guido was released on $2.5 million bail. No word on whether Roselli made bail. If convicted, both men could face up to 10 years in prison.
