Arrests Reported In Air Cargo Price Fixing

Air Cargo News/Flying Typers learned that first arrests reportedly have been made involving U.S. and Europe-based freight forwarder managers involved in that ongoing investigation over alleged price fixing in air cargo.

The arrests reportedly were conducted by law enforcement at airports as managers moved about, pinching some managers that were taken away in handcuffs according to one report.

Questions about the most recent round of law enforcement raids on major large freight forwarders in USA and Europe were raised last week as many wondered why companies such as Kuehne + Nagel, Eagle, Schenker and others had suddenly been targeted in USA, Europe and Africa.
  Earlier Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic had paid fines and agreed to cooperate with law enforcement during the ongoing investigations.

“This recent news may answer why so many big forwarders and so-called partners of some airlines seemed unwilling to join the ongoing industry discussion raised as early as two years ago at CNS in Las Vegas, charging the airlines were using small to medium forwarders as collection agents for surcharges while charging near zero rates otherwise,” a forwarder told Air Cargo News/FlyingTypers.

  “If these reports hold up it would indicate that law enforcement based on testimony and other evidence believes that some or all of these major forwarder managers were in league with the airlines, and had arranged their own brand of kick back payments from the surcharges, payments that were not offered to the smaller forwarders.”