Securoseal

Drug busts just tip of iceberg: ISS

South African Airways (SAA) is once again involved in a case of drug smuggling. Fifteen of its crew members were arrested on Monday at London’s Heathrow airport, after 5kg of cocaine was found in a crew member’s luggage. This is the second time in less than a month that an entire SAA crew has been detained at the airport for a drug-related incident.

Following these incidents one can acknowledge that there is a security issue at the airports. According to Annette Hubschle, senior researcher for the Institute for Security Studies, who focuses on organized crime and money laundering, there may be some security concerns at the airport, but what has been seen is primarily collusion of security guards together with flight attendants and general staff at airports.

The major problem, she says, is that people are underpaid and therefore vulnerable to being approached by drug lords to assist with drug trafficking. She pointed out that drug busts like these are often just the tip of the iceberg. In her opinion, authorities are on the right path to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The SAPS Crime intelligence Unit seems to be on a roll of finding and spotting these syndicates. Of course we need to be vigilant about the security around airports. On account of the little salary for people who work at airports, there is a possibility of corrupt activities or collusion with gangsters. Security measurements should comprise of a more thorough search of airline staff…even though they are being searched, obviously it is quite easy for them to smuggle contrabands through.”

Drug trafficking is a pressing problem at airports these days, Hubschle confirms. “In many countries the primary port of entry for drugs is through airlines. Not only cabin attendants, but also so called drug mules have become an issue of concern in South Africa and surrounding countries. Often people who are vulnerable, who don’t have money are easy prey to drug barons.

“There is a huge issue around drug mules and drug trafficking via airports. They are easily persuaded by nice holidays to South America or South-East Asia. All they have to do is bring some things back. Off course there are also other ports of entry like large container ships and small boats. Drugs are also entering South Africa via land routes, but the airport is definitely one of the weak points,” she said.

Recently there have been two drug incidents involving SAA crew members, which Hubschle certainly thinks is related. “It is quite surprising that in such short succession two similar incidents happen. Often they work together, so it might very well be that the same syndicate is behind this or it might be people who are colluding.”

There are not really any new trends in drug traffic. However, she says, one thing has changed. “In the past South Africa and other countries in the region were transshipments spots. Drugs would arrive in South Africa and then they would move further onto Europe or to the Americas. Nowadays we have huge drug markets in the region as well. As we used to be a transshipments port, now we have big drug markets in the region,” Hubschle emphasized, saying that this is quite a worrisome trend.

It would appear that airports have become an easy way to smuggle drugs. “…a lot has been done to cut down on the smuggling. One of the most usual ways to smuggle is to swallow a pallet of cocaine or heroine. However the new systems of detection are detecting pallets as well. The interesting thing is that drug syndicates are usually a step ahead of law enforcements. They change as they are being detected. It wouldn’t be surprising if they were to come up with new interesting ways of transporting drugs into the country.”

After the last incident, SAA tightened the existing security measures but apparently are not operating to its full capacity. Hubschle explained that one has to do proper background checks on one’s staff, to really make sure that their luggage is searched. Nonetheless Hubschle thinks it is much easier for a flight attendant to get involved with drug trafficking. “Because they know their way around airports, they know the ground staff and they know people working at airport services. It is probably easier for a person that is actually working in the airport industry or for flight companies to transport drugs than the usual person.”

Following the latest incidents involving the SAA crew members, Annette Hubschle concludes that security measurements should be tightened. Above all, employees of airports and airlines must be searched more thoroughly. This security measure might help in order to prevent similar incidents in the future. VOC (Annelien Maes)