Arik
Air has stated that a member of the airline’s cabin crew, Chika Egwu Udensi,
was yesterday night arrested at Heathrow Airport London by the UK Border Force
in connection with alleged possession of substance suspected to be drug.
The
airline, Nigeria’s major carrier, said it was presently carrying out its
private investigation to determine how the cabin crew member came about the
suspected banned substance.
“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 substances trafficking and
will not tolerate the use of any of its aircraft or crew for the courier of
banned items and substances,” the spokesman of the airline Adebanji Ola said in
statement.
Ola
said 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 the possibility of any future similar
incidents.
According
to him, “The airline is a responsible Nigerian company always seeking to
maintain and uphold the integrity and proud reputation of the nation.”
In
the interim, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) today stated that
it would sanction the airline for the arrest of Udensi in London.
The
agency in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the CEO
of the agency; Ahmadu Giade, has ordered investigation into the operations of
Arik Air following the arrest of one Udensi, with 20kg of substances that
tested positive for cocaine at Heathrow Airport, London.
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