SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS LAUNCHES PROBE AFTER CREW IS BUSTED

UNCLAS PRETORIA 000129 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/TRA/OTP DEPT FOR EEB/TRA/AN/TERRI ROBL TSA FOR ANTHONY GIOVANNIELLO DAKAR FOR FAA REP FAA FOR NANCY ANGELO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS LAUNCHES PROBE AFTER CREW IS BUSTED IN LONDON FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING ¶1. (SBU) Summary. South African Airways has launched a probe into the arrest of South African Airways crew members in London on suspicion of drug trafficking on January 20. The fifteen-member SAA crew, including three pilots, who were arrested in London and detained for 24 hours, has been released on bail until March 23. British and South African law enforcement units are investigating whether proper security checks occurred prior to departure in South Africa. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The crew of SAA Flight Number 234 were arrested at Heathrow International Airport after 50 kilograms of cannabis with an estimated value of R2.1 million ($210,000) and four kilogram of cocaine with an estimated value of $208,000 were found in three of their bags on January 20. The UK Border Agency said in a statement that the drugs were discovered in three pieces of baggage that had arrived on the SAA flight from Johannesburg. UK Revenue and Customs Spokesperson Bob Geiger told the British press that all 15 crew members were detained for questioning and released after about 24 hours on unconditional bail while investigations continue, including forensic tests on the three bags. ¶3. (SBU) SAA Head of Corporate Affairs Robyn Chalmers told the media that, "SAA is taking this matter extremely seriously and has launched a full investigation, together with the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Unit, to establish how the illegal substances were taken on board." SAA crew luggage is supposed to undergo a thorough screening procedure at a designated crew center prior to departure. However, the question of whether SAA or a security company conducted the required pre-departure checks remains unanswered. Chalmers said the crew members would be monitored by Interpol while in South Africa. SAA regards the matter as extremely serious, and an intensive probe by the Crime Intelligence Unit is under way, she emphasized. ¶4. (SBU) Geiger said all 15 had been ordered to present themselves to the Heathrow police station on March 23. Failure to appear could result in a warrant for their arrest and extradition to the UK. SAPS Crime Intelligence spokesperson Senior Superintendent Tummi Golding said both South African and British police are trying to ascertain how the bags got through security checks at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. LA LIME