Drug smugglers 'targeting SAA'

2009-02-18 13:27

Cape Town - International drug smugglers have targeted SA Airways as a means to move their products into Europe, SAA acting CEO Chris Smyth said on Wednesday.

Briefing the National Assembly's public enterprises committee, he said the "drug smuggling plague" SAA was currently experiencing was a movement of drugs in a supply chain from the growing areas of South-east Asia and South America into Africa, where Africa was used as a hub or transit point into Europe.

"And the point in Africa moves," he said.

Kenya Airways had an enormous problem with drug smuggling some time ago, and when they tightened it up, Kenya became unattractive to the trade.

"So they simply moved to another country. It's now SAA's turn. And I say that because if you look in context, SAA has not had a drug problem since the four or five episodes... in 2005 and 2006.

"At the time increased security chased that problem away and we will do that again this time," he said.

Drug detection equipment

Smyth declined to provide too much detail, saying it would provide an opportunity for the drug smugglers to work around them.

However, steps included bringing in sophisticated drug detection equipment as from Wednesday morning.

A task team had also been formed between SAA, the SA Police Service, the Airports Company of SA and customs.

"We've asked for help. SAA needs that help, we can't do this alone. It is really not SAA's sole responsibility to fight crime in this country. It is something that needs the collective effort of all players at the airport," Smyth said.

- SAPA