Tuesday, 17 February 2009Fifteen cockpit and cabin crew members of South African Airlines flight from Johannesburg to London were arrested at Heathrow airport on Monday after customs officials discovered 2 kilograms of cocaine in a cosmetics bag.
South African Airways spokesman Robyn Chalmers said: "SAA can confirm that 15 crew members were detained by authorities in London after contraband was allegedly found in their possession".
This is the second South African Airways crew in four weeks to have been detained for questioning over alleged drug smuggling. Last month, a South African Airways pilot, flight and cabin crew were arrested in London after customs officers discovered 50 kilograms of cannabis and 4 kilograms of cocaine worth 300,000 pounds.
The crew including the pilots were released on unconditional bail and ordered to report back to HMRC investigators at Heathrow airport's police station on 23 March.
Robyn Chalmers, South African Airways' head of group corporate affairs said on Monday:" 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 going forward".
Airline crew are subject to same security checks as other passengers in England and South Africa.
Huseyin Akturk
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Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Journal of Turkish Weekly
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