Monday June 19, 2006
Vietnam Airlines pilot arrested for drug trafficking links
HANOI (AP) - A Vietnam Airlines pilot has been arrested in Australia on suspicion of involvement in a drug trafficking ring after he was caught at Sydney airport carrying US$560,000 (euro442,000) in undeclared cash, state-controlled media reported Monday.
Customs officials discovered Tran Dinh Dan with the massive stash of money as he checked in for a flight back to Vietnam June 3, and placed him under arrest, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper quoted an unidentified official of Vietnam Airlines as saying.
Dan told Australian police that he had been hired by a transnational drug trafficking ring to carry the money, the newspaper reported.
The report did not say if Dan has been charged with any crime.
Pham Ho, administrative head of Interpol Vietnam, told The Associated Press on Monday that his agency asked Australian police to confirm the arrest, but had yet to receive a response.
Officials at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi declined to comment Monday.
Tuoi Tre said Dan will be brought to court on Aug. 9.
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