LONDON- British Airways (BA) faced another drug smuggling incident when cocaine valued at £100,000 ($131,000) was discovered inside a lavatory on a Boeing 777 that landed at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) from Orlando International Airport (MCO).
This discovery follows a similar incident where another British Airways Boeing 777 was delayed at Cancun International Airport (CUN) for 24 hours after Mexican authorities found suspected cocaine blocks hidden in luggage onboard the aircraft.
Photo: Clément AlloingBritish Airways Drug Cartel Bust
The cocaine discovery at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) occurred after the British Airways Boeing 777 was unexpectedly directed to a maintenance hangar following its overnight flight from Orlando, Florida.
According to reports from The Sun newspaper, an engineer found the drugs concealed behind a panel within one of the aircraft’s lavatory waste bins. This unscheduled maintenance decision likely thwarted the smugglers’ plan to retrieve the narcotics between flights.
Security experts believe the drugs were likely hidden during the aircraft’s turnaround in Orlando by someone with legitimate access to the plane, such as cleaning staff.
The smuggling operation apparently relied on accomplices at Gatwick Airport who possessed security clearance that would allow them to retrieve the cocaine and bypass standard customs inspections.
Photo: Caden HendersonRising Concerns About Airport Security
These consecutive incidents highlight potential security vulnerabilities within airline operations and airport security systems.
The method of concealment—hiding contraband in aircraft lavatories and luggage—suggests smugglers are exploiting insider access points in international aviation networks.
The situation raises questions about security protocols at both departure and arrival airports. At Orlando International Airport, the placement of drugs onboard suggests either security lapses or the involvement of airport personnel with legitimate access.
Similarly, at London Gatwick, the smuggling plan relied on individuals with security clearance to retrieve the drugs and circumvent customs procedures.
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Photo: Andrew Thomas | FlickrSimilar Incidents
The April 8 incident occurred as passengers began boarding the aircraft, with the Mexican National Guard and local police conducting an extensive search operation.
Video footage captured law enforcement officials retrieving what appeared to be blocks of cocaine from luggage beside the Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
The discovery prompted an immediate cessation of boarding procedures at Cancun International Airport as authorities launched a comprehensive investigation.
Passengers who had already boarded were escorted back to the gate area, where they witnessed the unfolding drug seizure through terminal windows.
According to passenger accounts shared on social media, law enforcement arrived with sniffer dogs and drug detection equipment before discovering the suspected cocaine packages.
The ensuing aircraft search was so thorough and time-consuming that the flight crew exceeded their legal duty time limitations, necessitating an overnight delay.
British Airways issued a statement acknowledging the disruption was due to “circumstances entirely out of our control” and apologized to affected travelers. Passengers were accommodated in nearby hotels before the flight successfully departed the following evening.
This isn’t the first time airline personnel have been implicated in drug trafficking operations. In 2017, former Emirates (EK) flight attendant Zohaab Sadique was arrested in Manchester after smuggling narcotics through Dubai Airport on multiple occasions.
Sadique collected drugs hidden by cleaners aboard an aircraft serving Pakistan and subsequently transported them to northern England.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has previously warned that airline employees involved in smuggling operations pose a particularly serious threat due to their specialized knowledge of security protocols and access privileges.
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British Airways London Bound Flight with 777 Diverted Twice
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