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Cocaine found on Heathrow flight Air crew bailed over drugs find
(about 2 hours later)
A drugs haul that seized £150,000 of cannabis from the crew of a flight from Johannesburg to Heathrow has uncovered a further £160,000-worth of cocaine. Fifteen crew members have been bailed after customs officers at Heathrow airport seized cannabis and cocaine with a street value of £310,000.
Fifteen South African Airways flight crew were held on Tuesday after a check discovered 50kg (110lbs) of cannabis. The South African Airways staff, including three pilots, were arrested on Tuesday after 50kg (110lbs) of cannabis was found in baggage.
But a further baggage search found 4Kg (8.8lbs) of cocaine, making the total haul's street value about £310,000. A further search uncovered 4Kg (8.8lbs) of cocaine, worth £160,000.
The crew have been bailed until March. No passengers are so far implicated, an HM Revenue and Customs spokesman said. The crew, who include three pilots from the Johannesburg flight, have been released pending further inquiries.
They have been granted unconditional bail and instructed to report back to Heathrow police station on 23 March, HM Revenue and Customs spokesman Bob Gaiger said.
Officers from the UK Border Agency found the cannabis in three bags after the plane landed in London at 0800 GMT on Tuesday.Officers from the UK Border Agency found the cannabis in three bags after the plane landed in London at 0800 GMT on Tuesday.
The HM Revenue and Customs spokesman said a search later that afternoon then uncovered the cocaine. The Customs spokesman said the cocaine was found in one of the bags during a further search later that afternoon.
He added that all flight and cabin crew are subjected to the same checks as passengers.He added that all flight and cabin crew are subjected to the same checks as passengers.
He urged anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drugs smuggling to call the 24-hour customs hotline on 0800 59 5000. SAA, which is owned by the South African government, said it was cooperating fully with the UK authorities.
In a statement, the firm said: "The airline has also launched an investigation into this matter involving SAA Aviation Security and the SAPS [South African Police Service] Crime Intelligence Unit".
SAA added it was arranging to fly the crew back to South Africa, where they would be interviewed by airline officials.