For the Love of God and the Arab Rising

  Chapter Seventeen: Back in New York. McGovan had called Nosa and agreed to meet Banta at JFK airport the following day. McGowan was sitting in the business class lounge drinking coffee when Banta arrived. McGovan looked up, acknowledged Banta with a nod and waved over the waitress; who dutifully poured another coffee and asked Banta if he would like anything else. Banta looked directly at her with a glint in his big brown eyes, his brilliantly white teeth flashing in contrast to his black skin as he grinned at her. ‘Not just now thank you my lovely’. His voice was deep in tone, nearly growling with the Congolese accent, and yet had a rolling finish affected by his time in New York. The young girl quickly turned tail and scurried away. Banta laughed loudly and was clearly disturbing the other users of the lounge. McGovan did not flinch, but gestured that Banta may want to sit down to discuss recent event a little further. Banta reminded McGovan that he would require evidence to the efficiency of his UK operation, and the man power he had in place to handle the drop. They talked little throughout the trip to London and headed for McGovans 6 bedroom house in Upminster, Essex. McGovan’s wife and associates were waiting for them. A good meal was served and then onto the drawing room to discuss business and confirm every last detail of the drop. McGovan had told Nosa that his men had dealt with the Mitchells on their exit from Heathrow airport; a completely fabricated lie. McGovan was on the edge and could not afford to let the brothers know his grip was slipping; if they found out, he was a dead man for sure. Nosa had called McGovan at 7am for confirmation on the previous night’s conversation. At the time of this call, McGovan did not have confirmation that the interception had been a success. He had lied because Nosa was in a particularly foul mood, had cornered him and McGovan could not continue sounding so amateur by admitting he did not know what had happened at Heathrow airport. He was now in the really bad position of playing Banta along, planning the drop and managing a small team to find the Mitchells. He had to find the Mitchells or he would end up the same way as Ray: as in dead. McGovan went through the plan with his team and confirmed every detail with Banta. Who would later call his brother and confirm that McGovan had things in order, that everything was well planned and the operation was looking good; so they should proceed with the drop.

  The actual route taken by the drug mules starts at the Mexican border. It’s here that the local gangs take on all the risk to smuggle the drugs across the border and into America. And as there is no shortage of volunteers queuing for a free ride into America; Nosa does not have to purchase the goods until they are on US soil. The drugs that do make it through the border are then driven from the west to east coast. This would take at least eight days, but was easily the safest way to transport the goods. A steadily driven saloon car was invisible to the state police forces. Only a traffic accident or speeding ticket would put the trip at risk. Once the goods arrived in New York, they were stored at the lodge. It was the next part of the operation that was the cleverest of all and it had taken two years to setup. Baggage handlers at JFK had been ‘persuaded’ to join the brotherhood and were loyal to Nosa. They were rewarded handsomely, received protection and could not resist the circle of risk and reward. Trips would only be planned when his team of handlers were on shift. Bags clearly marked with a coded symbol are diverted for inspection and not X-Rayed. The tightly wrapped packages of white powder are removed from the bags and passed to the runway staff on the team. They have access passes to load international flights with baggage and freight; this includes privately chartered aircraft. The packages are easily fitted into other freight for concealment during the loading process. Baggage and freight staff, continue to be a common problem for any security operation at an airport, but the combination of long hours and low hourly pay provided a beautiful opportunity for the likes of Nosa and his brother. Once staff were befriended and enlisted into the brotherhood, they were trapped by oath. This was fine for the few that leant towards criminality anyway and enjoyed a cloak of protection that to them, far outweighed the risk of getting caught; but a life of servitude to others who were controlled with threats of violence and even death.