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Plane crew bailed over drugs haul | Plane crew bailed over drugs haul |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Fifteen crew members on a South African Airways (SAA) flight detained after cocaine with a street value of £250,000 was found in baggage have been bailed. | Fifteen crew members on a South African Airways (SAA) flight detained after cocaine with a street value of £250,000 was found in baggage have been bailed. |
The UK Border Agency officers arrested the nine men and six women at Heathrow airport, west London. | |
Officers found five kg (11lbs) of the Class A drug in luggage on the flight from Johannesburg. | |
SAA said its Aviation Security and the South African police have also begun an investigation into the incident. | |
All 15 were interviewed by customs officers at the west London airport and were released on bail until 7 and 8 April. | |
Last month, 15 other SAA crew members were arrested after cocaine and cannabis worth £310,000 was uncovered at Heathrow in a separate incident. | Last month, 15 other SAA crew members were arrested after cocaine and cannabis worth £310,000 was uncovered at Heathrow in a separate incident. |
'Zero-tolerance approach' | |
They were granted unconditional bail and instructed to report back to Heathrow police station on 23 March. | They were granted unconditional bail and instructed to report back to Heathrow police station on 23 March. |
South African Airways (SAA) spokeswoman Robyn Chalmers said: "Following yesterday's (Monday'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." | |
Bob Gaiger, spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs at Heathrow, said crew members were subject to the same customs checks as any other person when entering the UK. | Bob Gaiger, spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs at Heathrow, said crew members were subject to the same customs checks as any other person when entering the UK. |
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