South African Airways Crew Arrested For Drug Smuggling The Second Time In 4 Weeks

South African Airways crew arrested for drug smuggling - the SECOND in four weeks
By SAM GREENHILL
Last updated at 10:22 AM on 17th February 2009

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An aircrew arrested after £250,000 of cocaine was discovered in baggage on a plane have been released on bail.

The 15 South African Airways employees were arrested after UK Border Agency officers found 5kg of the class A drug when their flight from Johannesburg arrived at Heathrow yesterday.

The nine men and six women were interviewed by customs officers and bailed to return to Heathrow Police Station in April.


Two times: A South African Airways crew has been arrested for drug smuggling twice in the space of a month

Bob Gaiger, HM Revenue & Customs Heathrow spokesman, said: 'Crew members are subject to the same customs checks as any other person when entering the UK.

'HMRC together with UKBA play a vital role in the fight to prevent illegal drugs from entering the UK and in protecting our communities from the violence and corruption that always accompany this hideous trade.'

The latest arrests follow a similar incident on January 21, when a 15-member crew from the same airline was arrested after cocaine and cannabis worth £310,000 was found on their flight.

50kg of cannabis, with a street value of £150,000, and 4kg of cocaine, worth £160,000, was found in bags when the flight landed at Heathrow.

The crew was released on unconditional bail, and was due to report back to HMRC investigators at Heathrow Police Station on March 23.

South African Airways (SAA) spokeswoman Robyn Chalmers said: 'Following yesterday's incident, the airline is again co-operating fully with the British authorities in an investigation that is currently under way.

'An investigation in Johannesburg, involving SAA Aviation Security and the South African Police Service Crime Intelligence Unit, is also under way to establish how security procedures were breached.

'SAA remains committed to a zero-tolerance approach towards the use of the airline's services for any criminal activity and will continue to closely monitor the situation.'


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