BWI Leasing Inc. / B & D Leasing Inc.

  January 1978 to 1981

  United States of America

TYPE: Lessor

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Florida

FORMER NAME: Nil

OTHER NAMES: BWI Leasing Inc. (1978-1979), B & D Leasing Inc. (from 1979)

BWI Leasing Inc. was founded on 11 January 1978 by Robert S. Walker and his girlfriend Doris Adkins. These two criminals were active in the late 1970's and early 1980's in the drug smuggling business led by Carlos Lehder. BWI Leasing was only the vehicle & equipment owning arm of a vast network of corporations designed to effectively smuggle drugs from Colombia to the USA via the Caribbean, and to launder the money thus generated. Together, Walker and Adkins operated a small paved airfield near Tampa, FL, another grass airfield in a citrus grove, a fleet of 6 aircraft, and Norman Cay, an island in the Bahamas through which the drug transited.

By 19 April 1979, BWI Leasing had changed its name to B & D Leasing. As the couple were racking up an estimated $10 millions in laundered drug money, their corporations network widened to include an offshore bank, a yacht, and several legitimate businesses in Florida and the Caribbean to provide a front for their illegal activities. Walker eventually got arrested by undercover US Customs agents in March 1981. He was murdered the following month after leaving prison on bail. It is assumed that his operation, including B & D Leasing, also got dismantled at that point.

September 1979* to November 1980*

• Smith Super 46C Commando: N355BY