Airline workers detained over stash of cocaine found on plane
Several crew members and pilots are being detained in the Dominican Republic after cocaine was found stashed on a plane, according to a Canadian airline.
Five crew members from a Pivot Airlines flight are among 11 people who have been detained by authorities in the Dominican Republic after 200 packages of cocaine were discovered in a maintenance compartment. The airline said on Sunday its "primary concern" was the crew's "safety, security, ethical and humane treatment."
"The Pivot crew immediately reported it to local authorities in accordance with Transport Canada-approved policies and procedures, as well as local and international laws," the airline said.
"It is unacceptable that a Canadian aircrew could remain detained for the duration of a potential twelve-month investigation for a suspected crime that they reported," the airline added.
Dominican authorities opened an investigation into a small charter plane at the Punta Cana International Airport after 210 kilograms of cocaine wrapped in plastic were discovered, the country's drug control agency said. As part of the investigation, nine Canadians, one Hindu person, and one Dominican were taken into custody, officials confirmed in a statement.
As part of the process, the authorities began a more rigorous check," the agency said.
Eight black packages of cocaine were discovered in control compartments throughout the plane, with each package containing 25 smaller packages, totaling 200, the agency said.
Crew members and passengers, along with the aircraft, are "under the control of the Public Ministry" as officials conduct their investigation. The airline said it is cooperating with authorities and has reported the incident to the Canadian Embassy and to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Pivot Airlines for a statement but did not receive a response back.
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