Back in the 1980s it was said that absolutely nothing could happen at the cargo side in JFK without the agreement of a large extended family in New York. This family had Italian connections.
Absolutely correct for the time period mentioned.
The family running the show were the well known Lucchese and their main guy running the JFK gig was Frank Manzo, who practically controlled the unions present at JFK.
Same guy who organized the legendary Lufthansa heist. About $20 million in money (2012 money) and jewelry were stolen.
I suggest reading this 1987 Fortune article:
HOW THE MAFIA LOOTS JFK AIRPORT More than $59 billion of freight and 27 million passengers a year are irresistible pickings for mobsters, who have made it a hotbed of stealing, smuggling, and extortion. - June 22, 1987