A crew member of Arik Air, Mr.Chika Egwu Udensi, was on Monday night apprehended at Heathrow Airport, London, for allegedly peddling substances, suspected to be cocaine.
Spokesman of Arik Air, Mr. Ola Adebanji, confirmed the latest arrest.
He said the crew member was arrested by the UK Border Force in connection with alleged possession of items suspected to be banned substances.
Adebanji, in a statement, stated that the airline was presently carrying out its own investigation to determine how the cabin crew member came about the suspected banned substance.
He stressed that the airline would also be cooperating fully with the UK authorities and other appropriate agencies in their investigations.
The statement said: “The airline again reaffirms its commitment to the fight against drug and illicit substances trafficking and will not tolerate the use of any of its aircraft or crew for the courier of banned items and substances.
“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.
“Arik Air is a responsible Nigerian company always seeking to maintain and uphold the integrity and proud reputation of the nation.”
The arrest came barely two years after two crew members of the same airline were arrested, also in London, for the same offence.
The suspect was arrested with 2.7 kilogramme of the banned substance.
The aircraft had departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, for a flight to London.
In December 2011, a 29 years old Arik Air cabin crew, Ms. Chiwendu Uwkaoyenma, was arrested in London for drug trafficking.
She 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.
Meanwhile, NDLEA, has threatened to sanction Arik Air over the arrest of its crew member in Heathrow, London over trafficking of cocaine into the country.
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/london-police-arrest-another-arik-air-crew-with-cocaine/#sthash.ZK1CvJOb.dpuf
