This week TSA screeners in Los Angeles were arrested in an apparent drug trafficking scheme. Reportedly these agents were paid as much as $2,400 to look the other way when bags containing drugs (and whatever else) came through. They were caught when one of the bozos got in the wrong security line and was busted by a TSA agent who was doing his job.

Just how widespread is this problem?

TSA agents have been fired for not screening checked bags (in Honolulu recently, where more than 40 were fired), but that seems to have stemmed more from being lazy than trying to participate in a crime ring. Still, more and more reports are surfacing where agents are being accused of taking bribes for looking the other way.

Airport security personnel are already low-hanging fruit. Every few days there is another story of an overly aggressive TSA agent who has spotted a potential terrorist disguised as a three year old girl. Yet these accounts are of agents who are going beyond the scope of their responsibilities, a far cry from those who are arrested on suspicion of allowing restricted items through the airport security network.

The TSA needs to adopt an incredibly aggressive and public response to these isolated incidents quickly, in order to begin the process of regaining the public’s trust. These are professional men and women who are dedicated, for the most part (front line personnel I am speaking of here), to keeping us safe when we travel and the news headlines are reporting just the opposite.

It’s time trust was restored by the TSA.