NDLEA begins probe of Arik Air operations after its staff was arrested with cocaine at Heathrow airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has threatened to sanction Arik Air over the arrest of its crew member in Heathrow, London over trafficking of cocaine into the country.

Chika Egwu Udensi, a flight attendant with the airline was on Monday, arrested at Heathrow Airport, London for possession of cocaine.

Spokesman of the airline, Mr. Ola Adebanji, in a statement released Tuesday, said the airline was presently investigating the matter.

But the NDLEA is furious at the airline because more than two of its attendants have been arrested in the past for similar case.

The latest arrest came barely two years after two crew members of the same airline were arrested, also in London, for the same offence.

Their aircraft had departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, for a flight to London.

Also in December 2011, a 29-year-old Arik Air cabin crew, Ms. Chiwendu Uwakaoyenma, was arrested in London for drug trafficking.

Lamenting the trend, NDLEA said it had commenced investigations into the operations of the airline.

Media statement by the spokesman of the agency, Mr. Mitchell Odoyeju stated that the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, gave the order following the seizure of 20kg substances that tested positive for cocaine.

The statement said, “The agency will carry out full scale investigation into this case to ascertain those behind the criminal act. We shall work closely with our international collaborators on the matter. Arik Airline will be sanctioned if found wanting.

“The agency shall invoke section 25 of the NDLEA Act against the airline, which states that it shall be the duty of every commercial carrier to take reasonable precaution to ensure that its means of transport are not used in the commission of offences under this Act.

“Every commercial carrier is to comply with appropriate security measures at points of entry and exit in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other customs control areas, to prevent unauthorised cargo in its means of transportation.”