An investigation has been launched to identify corrupt airport employees in Bermuda and the US after a “significant” quantity of drugs was imported to the Island.US and Bermuda Government security agencies joined forces to successfully crush a bid to bring drugs into Bermuda via Philadelphia International Airport on Wednesday.According to a Police spokesman, three men were arrested in the Shelly Bay, Hamilton Parish area for allegedly importing the controlled drugs around 4pm that day.“The arrests were the result of a prolonged investigative effort with partner agencies in the United States. At the time of the arrests, a number of evidential items were seized, including a substantial sum of cash.“The three persons arrested remain in custody while the investigation continues,” added the spokesman.The US Consulate also released a statement last night, which said: “On June 1, 2011, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bermuda Police Service (BPS), HM Customs and US Airways Security successfully dismantled an organisation that exploited commercial aircraft to smuggle narcotics into Bermuda from the United States via Philadelphia International Airport.“This coordinated investigation identified corrupt current and former airport/airline employees in the US and Bermuda who utilised their positions to circumvent airport security and federal inspection procedures to smuggle narcotics.“ICE /HSI has, and will, continue to utilise its broad investigative authority to target those individuals that pose direct threats to our communities both in the US and abroad.US Consul General Grace Shelton added that: “Law enforcement is an area of excellent cooperation between the United States and Bermuda.“Bilateral collaboration between allies can yield strong results, and I am pleased that working together we have been able to shut down this smuggling operation.”