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Vietnam detains VietJet pilots for alleged drug trafficking

By Tan Qiuyi Posted 19 Aug 2016 23:25 Updated 19 Aug 2016 23:30

HANOi: Authorities detained two foreign pilots of Vietnam’s low-cost carrier VietJet Air for suspected drug trafficking at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport late Thursday (Aug 18) night, Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAV) told Channel NewsAsia.

The two men, 53-year-old US citizen Francis Dennis Abellera Yutangco and 45-year-old filipino Elmer Ederadan Sorrea, were allegedly carrying a white substance in a 505-gram model VietJet plane.

The pilots were on vacation and scheduled to board a Cebu Pacific Air flight from Hanoi to Manila, CAAV chief Lai Xuan Thanh said in a phone interview.

“Customs officers at the airport found a suspicious substance in their luggage. They were detained and later transferred to the police for further investigation,” Mr Thanh said.

Authorities have not confirmed the nature of the white substance. State media Vietnam News Agency says initial tests at the airport showed it could be heroin, morphine or opium, and samples were sent for further testing on Friday morning.

Channel NewsAsia’s attempts to reach VietJet Air on Friday were not successful.

*Additional reporting by Ngo Xuan Tung.

- CNA/mn