ORLANDO, Fla. -- Federal officials are screening all Orlando International Airport employees who enter secure areas for at least a few days and possibly permanently, authorities said Tuesday, after baggage handlers were accused of smuggling guns aboard a commercial airliner last week.

The change was part of a Transportation Security Administration plan to temporarily beef up security at four Florida airports and one in Puerto Rico in response to last week's arrests following a flight from Orlando to San Juan that had handguns and an assault rifle on board.

More than 160 security officers, aviation inspectors, federal air marshals and others were being dispatched to international airports in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The officers will be in place for a few days before rotating to other airports.

But Orlando airport officials want to make the increased security permanent, TSA spokesman Earl Morris said, adding the full employee screening is now planned for only a "couple of days."

"We are looking at our resources to see if we can keep our officers here longer," Morris said.

Airport officials declined to comment on the plan.

TSA officials are studying whether federal officers could stay in Orlando while the airport hires the security staff to do the checks.

The agency was criticized last week after law enforcement officials made four arrests in connection with a drug-smuggling ring that bypassed Orlando airport security to send guns and drugs to Puerto Rico.

Two airline baggage handlers allegedly used their employee uniforms and airport identification cards to enter restricted areas and avoid security screeners.