Aeromexico carries cargo too

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Aeromexico Flight Attendants Detained In Spanish Airport Drug Bust

Dow Jones

MEXICO CITY (Dow Jones)--Spanish police arrested three off-duty flight attendants of Mexican airline Aeromexico Thursday for allegedly carrying a combined 140 kilograms of cocaine in their luggage at the Madrid airport.

The flight attendants, identified as Gerardo Z.A., Luis A.G. and Eduardo P.A., "were taking advantage of their jobs at the airline company to bring the narcotic substance into Spain," the National Police of Spain said in a press release.

Police said the suspects attempted to sneak through the airport using their Aeromexico employee badges, adding that the operation was the biggest drug bust at Madrid's Barajas airport.

Aeromexico became Mexico's leading airline company this year after former rival Grupo Mexicana was grounded amid bankruptcy proceedings.

A Madrid police official said the suspects arrived on Aeromexico flight 001 out of Mexico City.

"Agents observed that among the travelers were three individuals carrying identical bags," the police statement said, adding that authorities discovered 132 bricks of white powder upon searching the luggage.

Aeromexico said in a statement that the flight attendants were traveling as tourists, "with a ticket paid at the public rate and not with a ticket given by the company."

"They didn't identify themselves as airline staff," Aeromexico said. "Upon being detained by the National Police of Spain, identification badges of the company were found in their bags."

Aeromexico said it isn't under investigation and has suspended the flight attendants until further notice by Spanish authorities.

Aeromexico's luggage policy allows each passenger to check in two bags, each weighing no more than 32 kilograms, on flights to Europe.

-By Paul Kiernan, Dow Jones Newswires; (5255)5980-5178, paul.kiernan@dowjones.com

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12-09-10 1607ET