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FURTHER arrests are likely in coming days after 15 South African Airways (SAA) crew were arrested at London’s Heathrow airport when the UK Border Agency found 50kg of marijuana in luggage on a flight this week.

Three pilots and 12 cabin attendants were arrested on Wednesday after the discovery. The agency said the marijuana, with a street value of about R2,1m, was found in three pieces of baggage on SAA flight SA234 from Johannesburg on arrival at 8am. It is believed 4kg of cocaine was also found.

The 15 were freed and allowed to return home pending further investigation. Sen Supt Tummi Golding, national spokeswoman for crime intelligence and Interpol, said yesterday the cabin attendants were questioned on returning to Johannesburg early yesterday morning. One attendant was arrested on drug-trafficking charges, and would be appearing in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court this morning. A woman security officer, suspected of allowing the smuggled contraband to slip through security undetected, was taken into custody at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday night. She would also appear in court this morning.

The three pilots are due to arrive back in SA later this week.

Golding said the investigation had broadened and more arrests were expected in the next few days. UK authorities were also likely to make further arrests.

Neither SAA spokeswoman Robyn Chalmers nor Golding could confirm whether previous SAA flights had been used to smuggle drugs out of the country.

UK revenue and customs media relations manager Bob Gaiger also was unwillingly to comment. “Because of the continuing investigation I am unable to give you the answers you are looking for.”

This is not the first time SAA crew members have been held for drug smuggling. Syndicates wanting to smuggle drugs and other contraband from country to country often target airline crews.

In April 2006, an SAA cabin attendant was arrested after trying to smuggle marijuana and cocaine into the UK.

Three other crew members were held on similar charges in the preceding seven months. Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten reported recently that police in Switzerland had arrested an SAA flight attendant in connection with the sale of 5,2kg of cocaine in April 2007.