Barely two years after two female members of Arik Air crew were arrested in London for smuggling cocaine into the United Kingdom, another crew member from the same airline, Chika Egwu Udensi, has been arrested at Heathrow Airport for allegedly smuggling 20kg cocaine worth a whopping N103 million in street value.
Udensi who is said to be living a large lifestyle, driving the best automobiles ranging from Range Rover to SUVs, was reportedly arrested by the UK Border Force on arrival at the airport and when a search was conducted on him, the banned substance was found on him.
Back home, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), swung into action and stormed the Arik Air office in Ikeja, Lagos, ostensibly to find out how the crew member was able to board the plane to London without proper checks.
But the airlines spokesman, Adebanji Ola averred that it carries out stringent checks on its crew members and wondered how one of its own could pass such tests and still carried the drugs on board the flight.
“Arik Air carries out very stringent checks on all members of staff and its travelling guests ahead of all flights. The airline will continue to focus its attention on measures to prevent the possibility of any future similar incidents.
The airline again reaffirms its commitment to the fight against drug and illicit substance trafficking and will not tolerate the use of any of its aircraft or crew for the courier of banned items and substances."
Recall that in December 2011, a 29 years old Arik Air cabin crew, Chiwendu Uwkaoyenma, was arrested in London for drug trafficking and was jailed for five years in 2012.
Also, in 2013, two staff of the airline were arrested at the Heathrow Airport for suspected drug trafficking
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