Flight Attendant arrested at Perth International
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Flight Attendant arrested at Perth International
Flight attendant arrested on drug charge
11:46 AEST Sat Sep 3 2005
AAP
A South African flight attendant has been caught allegedly trying to smuggle cocaine into Australia in a document folder at Perth International Airport.
The 26-year-old South African Airways steward was stopped by Customs on Thursday coming off a flight from Johannesburg.
A baggage search revealed he was carrying a leather-bound document holder which appeared to have a concealment on either side.
Inside the secret compartments customs officers allegedly found an estimated 1kg of cocaine.
The Australian Federal Police charged the man late on Friday with importing and possessing a prohibited import, which carries a fine of up to $550,000 and/or 25 years jail.
He is expected to appear in Perth Local Court.
AFP national manager of border and international investigations Mike Phelan said there was an increasing trend of importing smaller amounts of cocaine through individual couriers or through the post.
Customs said it was the second arrest of a flight attendant at Perth Airport in the past 12 months.
A South African steward was caught with more than $5 million worth of heroin at the same airport in August last year.
İAAP 2005
11:46 AEST Sat Sep 3 2005
AAP
A South African flight attendant has been caught allegedly trying to smuggle cocaine into Australia in a document folder at Perth International Airport.
The 26-year-old South African Airways steward was stopped by Customs on Thursday coming off a flight from Johannesburg.
A baggage search revealed he was carrying a leather-bound document holder which appeared to have a concealment on either side.
Inside the secret compartments customs officers allegedly found an estimated 1kg of cocaine.
The Australian Federal Police charged the man late on Friday with importing and possessing a prohibited import, which carries a fine of up to $550,000 and/or 25 years jail.
He is expected to appear in Perth Local Court.
AFP national manager of border and international investigations Mike Phelan said there was an increasing trend of importing smaller amounts of cocaine through individual couriers or through the post.
Customs said it was the second arrest of a flight attendant at Perth Airport in the past 12 months.
A South African steward was caught with more than $5 million worth of heroin at the same airport in August last year.
İAAP 2005
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hahahaha!
What an idiot. I'm glad that they're so strict!!!!
The reason that Perth is so strict is because it's also apparently a training port for customs etc, so everyone is on the ball, the same with Darwin.
What's happening with SAA and their crew? It was a SAA F/A last time aswell wasn't it?
Oz
What an idiot. I'm glad that they're so strict!!!!
The reason that Perth is so strict is because it's also apparently a training port for customs etc, so everyone is on the ball, the same with Darwin.
What's happening with SAA and their crew? It was a SAA F/A last time aswell wasn't it?
Oz
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I bet he's thanking his lucky stars he's not in Bali!!!!
Seriously though, not a good look for SAA....
I wonder what the incidence rate of (proven) smuggling by flight crews (worldwide) is? i.e. it's obviously a problem or going to be "attractive" to some in the profession, but is it more of a problem in some areas or others?? Hmm... interesting....
wonder what the sentence will be...? Anyone remember what the other guy got?
Seriously though, not a good look for SAA....
I wonder what the incidence rate of (proven) smuggling by flight crews (worldwide) is? i.e. it's obviously a problem or going to be "attractive" to some in the profession, but is it more of a problem in some areas or others?? Hmm... interesting....
wonder what the sentence will be...? Anyone remember what the other guy got?
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from
http://www.suntimes.co.za/1999/10/10/news/news23.htm
Seems the Perth incident isn't the first for SAA
"On Wednesday evening, a male cabin attendant was arrested in Mumbai, India, en route to South Africa with 1,5kg of heroin - with a street value of nearly R500 000 - packed in an expertly concealed false bottom in his suitcase."
and
"SAA says six cabin attendants are being held in jails at present in SA and around the world - two in London, one in New York, one in Mumbai and two in Johannesburg."
"Cabin crews say they are being treated like criminals at international destinations, with security personnel targeting SAA flight crew."
Gee I wonder why...
http://www.suntimes.co.za/1999/10/10/news/news23.htm
Seems the Perth incident isn't the first for SAA
"On Wednesday evening, a male cabin attendant was arrested in Mumbai, India, en route to South Africa with 1,5kg of heroin - with a street value of nearly R500 000 - packed in an expertly concealed false bottom in his suitcase."
and
"SAA says six cabin attendants are being held in jails at present in SA and around the world - two in London, one in New York, one in Mumbai and two in Johannesburg."
"Cabin crews say they are being treated like criminals at international destinations, with security personnel targeting SAA flight crew."
Gee I wonder why...
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sad!
As an ex SAA employee of many years ago...it makes my heart very sad to see bad news of any sort about a place that I loved but it is becoming very evident that something is not quite right. Just recently a flight attendant was arrested after getting off a flight in Cape Town. She was charged with stealing a large some of money from a passenger. Just last year two flightdeck members were charged with drug smuggling. not to mention the prostitution ring that was busted a while ago. Standards used to be so high and it was such an honour to work there..I wonder where it all went so wrong!
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Druggies
Sadly a large part of the problem is that ALMOST all of the crew being caught smuggling drugs come from the previously "disadvantaged"part of the community. There are very devious folk who keep their ears open for crew who have financial problems eg Very sick parent who needs an urgent operation but no money to pay for it. These folks are targeted as they are desperate and are often set up as the gopher while the real courier gets through.
This is a generalisation of course but as an ex SAA Flight Deck crewmember saw a lot of it happening.
Very sad but don't think it is endemic to SAA.
There is no such thing as easy money
Keep up the good work guys..........and the coffee hot
J1
This is a generalisation of course but as an ex SAA Flight Deck crewmember saw a lot of it happening.
Very sad but don't think it is endemic to SAA.
There is no such thing as easy money
Keep up the good work guys..........and the coffee hot
J1
Last edited by jumbo1; 16th Sep 2005 at 06:28.
