Airline crew quizzed over cocaine haul

THE pilot and entire crew of a South African Airways flight were being questioned at Heathrow today after more than £300,000 of cocaine and cannabis was found in baggage.

Officers from the UK Borders Agency discovered 50 kilos of cannabis with an estimated street value of £150,000 when they searched three suitcases as the crew passed through customs.

Further searches revealed four kilos of cocaine with a street value of £160,000.

All 15 members of the flight and cabin crews were arrested shortly after the 12-hour flight from Johannesburg landed at 8am yesterday.

Investigators from HM Revenue and Customs were questioning them today on suspicion of drugs smuggling.

An HMRC spokesman said: "The 15 people arrested, 10 women and five men, were a combination of cabin and flight crew. They are being held and questioned at Heathrow.

"The majority of our seizure operations are intelligence-led but I can't comment on this case."

No one at South African Airways was available for comment.