Florida Woman Files Lawsuit Against American Airlines After Drug Trafficking Accusation

A Florida resident has initiated legal action against American Airlines, claiming that an employee falsely implicated her in a drug smuggling operation, resulting in nearly a week in a Bahamian jail. The woman, identified as Alison Domínguez, was detained in April at Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport when authorities discovered a suitcase under her name containing over 100 bottles of codeine. However, subsequent records revealed that she had not checked any luggage herself and that the bag had been processed before her arrival at the airport.

The lawsuit, first reported by Court Watch, alleges that airline employees in Nassau manipulated the baggage system to register luggage under the names of unsuspecting passengers. The bags, laden with drugs, were later collected by accomplices in the United States at baggage claim. Domínguez recounted spending nearly a week in jail under "horrific conditions," forced to sleep on a urine and feces-stained concrete floor, often without access to a restroom, and facing threats of sexual assault from another inmate. According to the court document, prison guards even warned her about potential exposure to HIV.

The legal filing asserts that American Airlines failed to verify the information before alerting Bahamian authorities and U.S. Customs, leading to her arrest and public humiliation. "Had American Airlines taken the time to confirm these facts, Alison Domínguez would have been spared this dreadful ordeal," the legal document states. The case raises concerns about security at international airports and the possible exploitation of commercial airlines by drug trafficking networks to transport narcotics into the United States.

Currently, American Airlines has not commented on the matter. Updates will be provided if the company issues a statement.

Details of the Legal Action

The legal complaint filed by Alison Domínguez in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida offers new insights into her case and outlines the responsibilities she attributes to American Airlines. The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $75,000, though it does not specify an exact amount. Domínguez requests the court to award her "all damages and other compensation to which she is entitled," including redress for physical pain, mental anguish, loss of liberty, reputational harm, and exacerbation of a pre-existing health condition.

The complaint is based on four primary legal claims:

• Negligence for failing to protect its baggage systems and personal information.
• Failure to warn passengers, despite the company being aware of internal smuggling risks.
• Defamation by implication, for associating her name with drug-laden luggage.
• False imprisonment, for directly causing her arrest and detention in the Bahamas.

The document also elaborates on the criminal scheme operating at Nassau airport using the U.S. customs pre-clearance system: an employee registers bags with narcotics under the names of innocent passengers, which accomplices later collect in U.S. airports without customs checks.

As part of their argument, Domínguez's attorneys cite a history of incidents involving American Airlines employees in drug trafficking operations. These include arrests in Miami, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Jamaica from 2009 to 2023, which, according to the plaintiff, demonstrate that the airline was aware of the issue and failed to implement necessary measures. The lawsuit emphasizes that American Airlines lacked sufficient internal controls to prevent the manipulation of its baggage systems and accuses the company of allowing an innocent passenger's identity to be used in an international drug trafficking operation.

From Villa Clara to Miami: American Airlines' Other Scandals

Alison Domínguez's legal battle with American Airlines is not the first instance where the airline has been associated with drug trafficking and illegal activities. In March 2025, Cuban authorities reported the arrest of two passengers at Villa Clara's Abel Santamaría airport, traveling on an American Airlines flight, who were caught with 7.83 grams of crystal meth. The accused were detained by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in an operation framed as part of Cuba's "Zero Tolerance for Drugs" policy.

That same month, Cuban Customs warned about the increasing use of "blind mules," travelers who transport packages for payment without knowing their contents, which in some cases have involved smuggling narcotics into the island hidden in food, coffee, or sealed medicines. The warning highlighted that passengers are legally responsible for their luggage, regardless of their knowledge of its contents.

American Airlines has also faced similar issues in the United States. In 2019, four flight attendants were arrested at Miami International Airport for attempting to smuggle over $22,000 in undeclared cash as part of a money laundering operation. The crew members were apprehended following routine checks by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), prompting the airline to issue a statement pledging cooperation with authorities.

These incidents illustrate how commercial airlines, including American Airlines, have come under scrutiny in various countries for being used—or for the involvement of some of their employees and passengers—in illicit activities related to drug trafficking and money laundering.