According to This Day, Nigeria’s major air carrier, Arik Air, has confirmed that a member of its cabin crew was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Monday night by the UK Border Force in connection with alleged possession of banned substances.
Arik Air has said that they are carrying out their own investigation as to how the crew member came about the suspected banned substances. The spokesman for the airline, Adebanji Ola, stated: “Arik Air will also be cooperating fully with the UK authorities and other appropriate agencies in their investigations. 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. Arik Air carries out very stringent checks on all members of staff and its passengers ahead of all flights and that the airline would continue to focus its attention on measures to prevent future incidents. Arik Air is a responsible Nigerian company always seeking to maintain and uphold the integrity and proud reputation of the nation.”
Not only is this a national embarrassment, one also has to question how the crew member went through security checks at Murtala Muhammed Airport; our borders are evidently not strong enough. ThisDay further stated that until recently when security authorities stepped up measures to screen pilots and cabin crew members, they were seen as easy conduits for the trafficking of drugs and other illicit substances.