15 Accused Of Smuggling Marijuana, Cocaine

Authorities in England says 15 members of a South African Airways airline crew have posted bail to be released from jail, after their plane landed at London Heathrow with luggage which contained 110 pounds of marijuana and almost nine pounds of cocaine.

Police wouldn't say how they traced ownership of the bags to the crew, but said the street value of the drugs in London would have been about 310,000 euro, or about $428,000 US.

CNN reports three pilots were among the 10 women and five men arrested. The flight arrived from Johannesburg, South Africa, and the drugs were found by customs agents at Heathrow.

The investigation continues, and so far, no formal charges have been filed.

The airline says it has started its own investigation, aided by the South African Police Service. Robyn Chalmers, a spokeswoman for the carrier, insisted "SAA has a zero-tolerance approach towards the use of the airline's services for any criminal activity."

This makes showing up at the gate with a little alcohol on your breath look like relatively small potatoes...

FMI: www.flysaa.com