WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2009-01-22 Time: 06:00:07 Posted By: Jan
By Kate Dyall and Shaun Smillie
The SAA crew, including three pilots, arrested in London on suspicion of drug trafficking and detained for 24 hours have been released on bail until March 23.
The crew of flight SA234 were arrested at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday after 50kg of cannabis with a street value of R2,1-million (150 000 pound) and 4kg of cocaine with a value of 160 000 pound were found in three of their bags, according to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs spokesperson Bob Geiger.
All 15 were detained for questioning and released after about 24 hours on unconditional bail while investigations continue, including forensic tests on the three bags.
But there are questions which SAA is not answering, despite emails and calls.
SAA crew luggage undergoes a thorough screening procedure at a designated crew centre prior to departure.
The screening procedure is at the same level as the one implemented for passengers.
“SAA is taking this matter extremely seriously and has launched a full investigation, together with the SAPS Crime Intelligence Unit, to establish how the illegal substances were taken on board,” said SAA’s head of group corporate affairs Robyn Chalmers.
However, the question of whether SAA or a security company conducted the checks remains unanswered.
SAA has also not said if the crew will fly back to SAA as working crew or if they will return to work.
Geiger said all 15 had been warned to present themselves to the Heathrow police station on March 23, failing which warrants of arrest might be issued for breach of bail conditions.
On that date, some or all of the crew members could be released unconditionally or charged, depending on the result of the investigations.
The crew members had DNA samples and fingerprints taken to advance the investigations, according to SAPS Crime Intelligence spokesperson Senior Superintendent Tummi Golding.
She said the crew members would be monitored by Interpol while in South Africa.
The extradition partnership between the UK and South Africa means that if a warrant for arrest is issued by the UK police for a person in South Africa, the SAPS would arrest the person and proceedings would lead to their extradition to the UK, according to a Home Office spokesperson.
Golding said both South African and British police were trying to ascertain how the bags got through security checks at OR Tambo.
The matter was regarded as extremely serious, and an intensive covert operation by the Crime Intelligence Unit is under way, she added.