SAA crew busted for drug smuggling...

[Montague S]

seems our friends in South Africa aren't being paid enough for their trolley-dolly services.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iEUcIEePvMpiOBGQGkc1OEuWPecQ

[Phillippe M]

And they have done it again....

Flight crew arrested over drugs in baggage
NEWS.com.au - February 17, 2009 - 12:15pm

FIFTEEN South African Airways employees have been arrested after five kilos of cocaine were found in a bag, the second such incident in less than a month. The crew members were arrested after UK Border Agency officers discovered the drugs at Heathrow Airport.

A 15-member flight crew from the same airline were detained after cocaine and cannabis were found in bags in January.

They were released and are due to report to investigators on March 23.

An HM Revenue and Customs spokesman told the UK's Sky News that it was “very, very unusual” for two separate crews to be arrested in similar circumstances so close to each other in date.

“We were surprised to find another (haul)”, the spokesman said.

South African Airways were unavailable for immediate comment.
http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25067001-5014090,00.html

[Jon Harris]

It's great they got caught but how did they know?

Watching shows like Border Security I am really impressed and amazed how they catch in most instances otherwise unsuspecting looking people. I guess you're monitored as soon as you walk off the plane so they know who to target.

[Phillippe M]

South African Airways to drug test crew
Agence France-Presse - February 23, 2009 - 07:57am

SOUTH African Airways is to introduce stiff anti-drug measures after its crew members were arrested with a drugs haul at London's Heathrow airport.
Following the arrest of the 15-member crew of the national carrier, the second in a month, SAA announced in a statement it had created a special body to tackle drug trafficking at its airports.

Among other recommendations, the body has called for more sniffer dogs to "assist with narcotic detection" and installing drug detection devices around the airports.

Modern scanners with narcotic detection capabilities will also be installed next month.

In addition, all luggage belonging to crew members will be physically searched, as will incoming and outgoing aircraft to "ensure no unauthorised goods are onboard aircraft," the airways said.

Customs officials arrested the 15-member SAA crew after seizing cocaine worth $560,000 on a flight from Johannesburg, in a second drugs seizure in less than a month.

They were released on bail and will be required to appear back in London on April 6.

Fifteen SAA crew members were also arrested on January 20 after 50kg of cannabis and four kilos of cocaine were found in three suitcases on the airline's flight from Johannesburg.

SAA operates flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Heathrow, which is the world's busiest international airport.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25092776-5014090,00.html

[Adrian B]

SOUTH African Airways is to introduce stiff anti-drug measures after its crew members were arrested with a drugs haul at London's Heathrow airport.

Fifteen SAA crew members were also arrested on January 20 after 50kg of cannabis and four kilos of cocaine were found in three suitcases on the airline's flight from Johannesburg.

They will now be limited in the size of carry on baggage just like other passengers...

[Simon L.]

It's somewhat sad in a way as these sort of incidents have indeed indirectly forced tighter checks on aircrew by both govt. agencies / relevant authorities and airlines themselves.

Just look at the kind of things these aircrew are doing nowadays - you get SAA cabin crew arrested for drug-smuggling, Vietnam Airlines pilots busted for transporting stolen goods (details at http://en.carnoc.com/list/9/9538.html) as well as money laundering (video at http://en.carnoc.com/list/6/6966.html).

God, this world is going mad...

[D Chan]

It's somewhat sad in a way as these sort of incidents have indeed indirectly forced tighter checks on aircrew by both govt. agencies / relevant authorities and airlines themselves.

Just look at the kind of things these aircrew are doing nowadays - you get SAA cabin crew arrested for drug-smuggling, Vietnam Airlines pilots busted for transporting stolen goods (details at http://en.carnoc.com/list/9/9538.html) as well as money laundering (video at http://en.carnoc.com/list/6/6966.html).

God, this world is going mad...

when you think about it they are just human and like the rest of society.
most abide by the law but there will always be that 1% that are involved in illegal activities.

[Simon L.]

when you think about it they are just human and like the rest of society.
most abide by the law but there will always be that 1% that are involved in illegal activities.

I know, but aircrew, especially pilots, have traditionally been seen as trustworthy. Well, times have changed...