MALINDO Air has said it stands ready to cooperate with the authorities following the arrest of one of its cabin crew members for allegedly smuggling drugs into Australia.

The company said in a statement today that it has also raised the matter with the Malaysian Consul General’s office in Melbourne upon learning of the detention. 

“Malindo Air wishes to affirm that one of our cabin crew was arrested on arrival at Melbourne International Airport by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on January 7.

“We have now learnt from the various media reports that the said cabin crew was arrested for allegedly being part of an international drug syndicate, which used various airlines’ cabin crews for smuggling drugs into Australia.

“Malindo Air stands ready to cooperate with all the relevant authorities, be it in Australia or in Malaysia, in this regard. The said cabin crew has also been suspended with immediate effect pending termination,” it said. 

Australian media had reported today that the Australian Border Force crippled a drug syndicate involved in smuggling A$20 million (RM59 million) worth of drugs into Australia.

Its commander, Craig Palmer, reportedly said, with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, it had carried out raids on a number of properties across Melbourne last week.

Police arrested four women aged 47, 46, 47 and 38 and four men aged 26, 42, 30 and 46.

All eight appeared before Melbourne magistrates’ court today. – January 16, 2019.