DRUG TRAFFICKING: THE DIRTY LINEN OF AIRLINE CREW

(article written September 2007)



Drug Trafficking is a cankerworm in our society that requires a lot of hardwork and diligence from agencies and organizations concerned. The Buhari-Idiagbon regime brought the illicit business to our consciousness with the execution of the duo of Owoh and Ogedengbe. Since then, there has not been any execution within Nigeria for drug trafficking, but countries like Saudi Arabia and Singapore still inflict the capital punishment. Recently Nigeria lost a young footballer called Tochi for trafficking in drugs.

Nigerian airlines operating international flights and airlines operating in and out of the country, with or without Nigerian crew need to fasten their anti-trafficking belt, in order to nick the increasing drug trafficking by cabin crew members of airlines operating from Nigeria, and avoid a repeat of the ugly embarrassment caused Virgin Atlantic Airways (VAA) by a Nigerian cabin crew member.

Nigeria Airways pioneered international flight operations in Nigeria and for a long time it was rumored that the cabin and cockpit crew was a mixture of professionals and traffickers, this was not pleasant news and was usually denied until 1987, when a pilot, Billy Eko was caught with a large quantity of cocaine in the United States. He was charged to court and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. The rumors turned out to be a reality. Subsequently, some other crew members predominantly the cabin crew were caught at different times on and off duty in London, United States and Nigeria for drug trafficking.

The demise of Nigeria Airways opened the skies for other carriers to operate international flights, so also a new breed of traffickers, who not only traffic in drugs but are involved in passport racketeering and other sundry illicit deals which demean the profession and denigrate the fast-track privileges given to airline crew at facilitation points in all airports. Recent cases are that of Wudil an on-duty crew member of Virgin Atlantic and Keyamo an off-duty crew member of Virgin Nigeria. It is conclusive to say trafficking did not die with Nigeria Airways crew, but has been privatized on some designated carriers operating in and out of Nigeria.

Is it a Nigerian problem alone? NO! More than 30 airline staff in Tahiti was accused of smuggling drugs, including hauls of cocaine allegedly picked up by cabin crew on stopovers in the United States. Air Tahiti stood down a number of staff after police said they had evidence that cabin crew were involved in the drug operation.

In China, Chinese authorities also uncovered a drug trafficking syndicate operating via several crew members of Air China, the national carrier. Several Air China crew members have apparently been arrested on allegations that they were involved with international syndicates trafficking drugs. The case was revealed after authorities smashed a syndicate in October and some suspects implicated the Air China crew members. Ten senior officials of Air China were sacked for poor supervision. (Will the Nigerian regulatory authorities and airlines learn?)

In Kenya, Kenya Airways fired 32 employees after an internal investigation turned up evidence of drug smuggling by crew members and other staff. Flight attendants and airline employees who handle crew schedules were among those fired. The terminations came less than two weeks after a group of Kenya Airlines crew members published an open letter to the company's Management warning of "known drug traffickers" working for the airline. It is sad to know that over the past year, several Kenya Airways employees have been arrested and charged with smuggling heroin and other drugs (Can Nigerian Cabin Crew be as courageous as their Kenyan counterpart?)

Are cabin crew members alone? NO!! In the United States, a two-year federal "sting" operation culminated in the arrest of 58 people, including current and former employees of airline caterer LSG Sky Chefs Inc., who were charged with smuggling of drugs and weapons on American Airlines flights through Miami International Airport, sometimes using meal carts and coffee containers. The 11 LSG Sky Chefs employees, who were not named, allegedly lined the panels of rolling food service carts with compressed packets of cocaine and heroin and stashed drugs in coffee containers in on-board galleys. The suspects, who included ramp workers and law enforcement officers, were charged with conspiracy, possession and intent to distribute.

The arrests ended prolonged investigations under the code names "Operation Ramp Rat" and "Operation Sky Chef," which were launched when agents discovered drugs hidden on several flights from various cities in Latin America to Miami.

In Australia, Qantas fired a second baggage handler at Sydney Airport and announced a series of security enhancements as the furore escalated over alleged drug smuggling and crime links in the ranks of the airline's employees.

Southern Winds, an airline in Argentina ran into troubled waters when the airport police in Madrid discovered 60 kilograms of cocaine packed in four unaccompanied suitcases aboard an arriving Southern Winds flight. The resulting scandal cost the airline its government subsidy, and ultimately resulted in the carrier's collapse.

In Nigeria the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), sometime ago sacked a generation of personnel in the Security Department for aiding drug trafficking at the international airport Lagos.

In my opinion proactive actions by airlines and authorities concerned can reduce these incidences. Airlines that are not first offenders should be fined heavily by the authorities when caught and the aircraft in question grounded. Here I expect airlines to tackle the drug issue with the same venom used in tackling passengers’ traveling with dubious documents.

The regulatory authorities and airline should cooperate and prepare to join the rest of the world in Advanced Passenger Information System (API) programme, which has the potential of tackling illegal immigration, drug smuggling and organized crime as well as terrorism.

The Fast-Track privileges given to airline crew at departure and entry points should be reviewed, but not waived and airlines should as a matter of urgency develop a spy or security programme that will facilitate the detection or culpability of employees involved.

The cabin crew must not allow access to any persons who have no legitimate requirements for being aboard the aircraft. All points of entry aboard the aircraft must be locked, where no access to work is required. Airlines and their staff should co-operate fully with the local authorities during the period of investigation.

Safety is paramount and crew members that traffic drugs can also become users of hard drugs. An example of such act was an American Airlines pilot who mistakenly sipped coffee laced with heroin that had been smuggled aboard in the coffee filter, which aided the investigation of “operation sky chef”.

Cabin crew is an essential element of flight safety in the air. "It is also a safety-critical job. Based on the foregoing I will advise airlines to embark on spontaneous drug test for crew. A British drug-testing company, Cozart has developed a system used for testing crew for drugs. The system was recently acquired by Virgin and Emirates airlines. The system will use urine tests.

Airlines will test random urine samples taken from staff flying on long-haul routes; the Cozart system is capable of detecting alcohol in a urine sample for about 12 hours after drinking. Cannabis use registers for several days in a sample.

The airlines carry out random drug testing on staff in safety related fields; the idea is for the airlines to know if they have a drug user that can compromise safety.” This is part of an ongoing process to ensure the highest standards of safety.

Conclusively, it is imperative to state that crew members are not alone in this illicit business, the glamour of the profession and airline industry makes it front page news while our counterparts in the shipping industry with the same messy problems are not given the same level of publicity.

Also, there is a need for other employees in the industry to be monitored and investigated. There are rumored cases of ground staff wearing similar jacket with crew members or passengers, which will be exchanged at the foot of the aircraft or on board before take off, such exchanges are drug sewn jackets.

I also do not agree with the hasty conclusion of the Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that the recent arrest of Wudil will impede the employment of more Nigerian cabin crew by foreign carriers. This should be rejected by the NCAA as other countries with the drug menace have their personnel on board flights operating in and out of their countries. There should also be pay parity between Nigerian cabin crew and other crew nationalities working in the same airline.

Airlines must keep a strong watch on their crew before they are screwed up.