Malindo says ready to cooperate as Aussie investigators says its cabin crews involved in drug trafficking
Wednesday, 16 Jan 20194:56 PM MYT
by farik zolkepli
PETALING JAYA: Malindo Air says it is ready to cooperate with the relevant authorities, whether Australian or Malaysian, in connection with investigations into a drug-smuggling syndicate involving one of its cabin crew.
Confirming the arrest of one of its workers at Melbourne International Airport by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Jan 7, Malindo Air said there had not been any official communication either with their staff or the AFP on the arrest.
“We have nevertheless duly raised the matter with the Malaysian Consul-General’s office in Melbourne upon learning of the detention.
“We have now learned from the various media reports that said the cabin crew member was arrested for allegedly being part of an international drug syndicate that used various airlines’ cabin crews for smuggling drugs into Australia,” an airline spokesman said.
The news outlet quoted Commander Tess Walsh from Victoria Police as saying the arrests occurred as part of Operation Sunrise, which involved the AFP, Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
The joint investigative team claimed that the syndicate used the cabin crews of Malindo Air, a small airline based in Malaysia, to bring the drugs into the country.
Investigators allege the drugs were brought in via Melbourne and Sydney, carried on the bodies of cabin crew.
One defendant allegedly told investigators it was his 20th trip into Australia.
Commander Walsh said police believed the syndicate had been operating for at least five years and that the drugs seized so far were clearly “not the total amount of drugs” to have been brought in.
Meanwhile, Malindo's spokesman reiterated that the airline was ready to cooperate with all the relevant authorities on the matter.
“The cabin crew member has also been suspended with immediate effect, pending termination.
"As a responsible international air carrier, Malindo Air does not condone any act that is criminal in nature or misconduct by our personnel.
"Given all that we know to date, and based on the findings of our internal investigations, the airline is confident that this arrest appears to be an isolated incident arising out of a crew member’s misconduct," the spokesman said.
“None of the remaining Malindo Air crew on the said flight were detained.
"Though only into our sixth year of operations as an airline, we wish to reiterate of our commitment to continue to take all necessary steps to ensure our passengers’ safety and security at all times."
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/16/malindo-says-ready-to-cooperate-as-aussie-investigators-says-its-cabin-crews-involved-in-drug/#yB7gtmhHaA6TFg8g.99
Malaysia's Malindo Air crew in A$20 million drug smuggling syndicate, say Australian police
File photo showing a Malindo Air plane on the tarmac of an airport.PHOTO: MALINDO AIR
PUBLISHED5 HOURS AGO
UPDATED47 MIN AGO
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SYDNEY - Cabin crew of international airline Malindo Air have been accused of being members of a smuggling syndicate bringing illegal drugs from Malaysia to Australia, it was reported on Wednesday (Jan 16).
Eight people were arrested in Melbourne over the past fortnight as part of an operation targeting a syndicate responsible for smuggling more than A$20 million (S$19.5 million) worth of high-grade heroin and methamphetamine, police said in a statement.
Investigators allege drugs were carried on the bodies of cabin crew flying from Malaysia to Melbourne and Sydney, the DPA reported.
Victoria Police commander Tess Walsh told reporters the syndicate allegedly used cabin crews of the airline based near Kuala Lumpur to bring drugs into the country, the national broadcaster ABC reported.
Ms Walsh said the complex five-month investigation targeted a Vietnamese organised crime syndicate based in Melbourne.
The syndicate had been operating for five years and the ABC reported that at least two of the eight people arrested were cabin crew with Malindo.
But Malindo affirmed on Jan 16 (Wed) the arrest of only one of its cabin crew and said it has not had any official communication with the staff or from the Australian Federal Police on the detention.
"Malindo Air stands ready to co-operate with all the relevant authorities be it in Australia or in Malaysia in this regard," said Malindo in a statement. "The said cabin crew has also been suspended with immediate effect pending."
It added: "Given all that we know to date and based on the findings of our internal investigations, we are confident that this arrest appears to be an isolated incident arising out of a crew’s misconduct."
Four women and four men were arrested in Melbourne and charged with drug trafficking in relation to the syndicate. Six were remanded in jail to reappear in court in May, while two were granted bail.
Police seized luxury cars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and drugs during raids in Melbourne earlier this month.
Border Force Victoria commander Craig Palmer said on Wednesday that airline staff were not above the law, the DPA reported.
"They are subject to intervention at the border like everyone else and face significant penalties if they are found to be using their positions to attempt to circumvent our border controls," Mr Palmer added.
Last June, a flight attendant from Malaysian Airlines was arrested at Melbourne airport for allegedly trying to smuggle 3.5kg of heroin worth A$1.4 million in his luggage. The 33-year-old Malaysian man faces drug smuggling charges.
Wednesday, 16 Jan 20194:56 PM MYT
by farik zolkepli
PETALING JAYA: Malindo Air says it is ready to cooperate with the relevant authorities, whether Australian or Malaysian, in connection with investigations into a drug-smuggling syndicate involving one of its cabin crew.
Confirming the arrest of one of its workers at Melbourne International Airport by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Jan 7, Malindo Air said there had not been any official communication either with their staff or the AFP on the arrest.
“We have nevertheless duly raised the matter with the Malaysian Consul-General’s office in Melbourne upon learning of the detention.
“We have now learned from the various media reports that said the cabin crew member was arrested for allegedly being part of an international drug syndicate that used various airlines’ cabin crews for smuggling drugs into Australia,” an airline spokesman said.
The news outlet quoted Commander Tess Walsh from Victoria Police as saying the arrests occurred as part of Operation Sunrise, which involved the AFP, Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
The joint investigative team claimed that the syndicate used the cabin crews of Malindo Air, a small airline based in Malaysia, to bring the drugs into the country.
Investigators allege the drugs were brought in via Melbourne and Sydney, carried on the bodies of cabin crew.
One defendant allegedly told investigators it was his 20th trip into Australia.
Commander Walsh said police believed the syndicate had been operating for at least five years and that the drugs seized so far were clearly “not the total amount of drugs” to have been brought in.
Meanwhile, Malindo's spokesman reiterated that the airline was ready to cooperate with all the relevant authorities on the matter.
“The cabin crew member has also been suspended with immediate effect, pending termination.
"As a responsible international air carrier, Malindo Air does not condone any act that is criminal in nature or misconduct by our personnel.
"Given all that we know to date, and based on the findings of our internal investigations, the airline is confident that this arrest appears to be an isolated incident arising out of a crew member’s misconduct," the spokesman said.
“None of the remaining Malindo Air crew on the said flight were detained.
"Though only into our sixth year of operations as an airline, we wish to reiterate of our commitment to continue to take all necessary steps to ensure our passengers’ safety and security at all times."
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/16/malindo-says-ready-to-cooperate-as-aussie-investigators-says-its-cabin-crews-involved-in-drug/#yB7gtmhHaA6TFg8g.99
Malaysia's Malindo Air crew in A$20 million drug smuggling syndicate, say Australian police
File photo showing a Malindo Air plane on the tarmac of an airport.PHOTO: MALINDO AIRPUBLISHED5 HOURS AGO
UPDATED47 MIN AGO
FACEBOOKTWITTEREMAIL
SYDNEY - Cabin crew of international airline Malindo Air have been accused of being members of a smuggling syndicate bringing illegal drugs from Malaysia to Australia, it was reported on Wednesday (Jan 16).
Eight people were arrested in Melbourne over the past fortnight as part of an operation targeting a syndicate responsible for smuggling more than A$20 million (S$19.5 million) worth of high-grade heroin and methamphetamine, police said in a statement.
Investigators allege drugs were carried on the bodies of cabin crew flying from Malaysia to Melbourne and Sydney, the DPA reported.
Victoria Police commander Tess Walsh told reporters the syndicate allegedly used cabin crews of the airline based near Kuala Lumpur to bring drugs into the country, the national broadcaster ABC reported.
Ms Walsh said the complex five-month investigation targeted a Vietnamese organised crime syndicate based in Melbourne.
The syndicate had been operating for five years and the ABC reported that at least two of the eight people arrested were cabin crew with Malindo.
But Malindo affirmed on Jan 16 (Wed) the arrest of only one of its cabin crew and said it has not had any official communication with the staff or from the Australian Federal Police on the detention.
"Malindo Air stands ready to co-operate with all the relevant authorities be it in Australia or in Malaysia in this regard," said Malindo in a statement. "The said cabin crew has also been suspended with immediate effect pending."
It added: "Given all that we know to date and based on the findings of our internal investigations, we are confident that this arrest appears to be an isolated incident arising out of a crew’s misconduct."
Four women and four men were arrested in Melbourne and charged with drug trafficking in relation to the syndicate. Six were remanded in jail to reappear in court in May, while two were granted bail.
Police seized luxury cars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and drugs during raids in Melbourne earlier this month.
Border Force Victoria commander Craig Palmer said on Wednesday that airline staff were not above the law, the DPA reported.
"They are subject to intervention at the border like everyone else and face significant penalties if they are found to be using their positions to attempt to circumvent our border controls," Mr Palmer added.
Last June, a flight attendant from Malaysian Airlines was arrested at Melbourne airport for allegedly trying to smuggle 3.5kg of heroin worth A$1.4 million in his luggage. The 33-year-old Malaysian man faces drug smuggling charges.
