South African flight attendant arrested on drug smuggling charge

PERTH - A South African flight attendant has been caught allegedly trying to smuggle cocaine into Australia in a document folder at Perth International Airport.

The 26-year-old South African Airways steward was stopped by Customs on Thursday coming off a flight from Johannesburg.

A baggage search revealed he was carrying a leather-bound document holder which appeared to have a concealment on either side.

Inside the secret compartments customs officers allegedly found an estimated 1kg of cocaine.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged the man late yesterday with importing and possessing a prohibited import, which carries a fine of up to $550,000 and/or 25 years jail.

He is expected to appear in Perth Local Court today.

AFP national manager of border and international investigations Mike Phelan said there was an increasing trend of importing smaller amounts of cocaine through individual couriers or through the post.

Customs said it was the second arrest of a flight attendant at Perth Airport in the past 12 months.

A South African steward was caught with more than A$5 million ($5.45 million) worth of heroin at the same airport in August last year.

- AAP