South African Airways crew detained in Hong Kong for alleged drug trafficking

Two South African Airways (SAA) flight attendants have been detained in Hong Kong on suspicion of drug trafficking.

The crew were arrested separately on 23 and 24 September after being found with what is believed to be cocaine worth 45m South African rand ($1.9m; £2.4m).

The case is currently being investigated in court and the two employees remain in custody.

An SAA spokesman said the airline was declining to give further details on the case as it was still being investigated, but said the airline was “intolerant of any criminality by any one of its employees”.

The company said it had told the families of those involved and the South African consulate-general in Hong Kong had been notified in order to secure legal representation for the two employees.