Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Flying High: Entire Airline Crew Busted on Drug Charges

Safe to say this is a bit more weed than for personal consumption.
The crew of a South African Airways plane were arrested Tuesday after more than 310,000 pounds worth of cannabis and cocaine was found on a Johannesburg-London flight, customs officials said.

Border agency officials found 50 kilos (110 pounds) of cannabis worth 150,000 pounds (210,000 dollars, 160,000 euros)and four kilos of cocaine worth about 160,000 pounds in three bags, said a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) spokesman.

The flight and cabin crew -- 10 women and five men -- from the plane, which landed at London's Heathrow airport at 8:00 am (0800 GMT), were arrested.

"When the crew were passing through a customs clearance point... the UKBA (UK Borders Agency) officers found a quantity of cannabis in three suitcases," spokesman Bob Gaiger told AFP.

"As a result of that the entire crew of the plane... were arrested and they're now being held in custody and being interviewed by HMRC," he added, confirming that the pilot was also among those detained.

Further searches revealed a white powder that tested positive for cocaine.

"Interviews will be taking place and will probably go into tomorrow, and then we will decide whether we are going to charge anyone," or release some or all, on bail if necessary, the spokesman said.

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