Air Sénégal Cabin Crew Suspended as Interpol Reportedly Investigates Suspected Trafficking Network

Published by: The Fatu Network

Air Sénégal has suspended Senegalese cabin crew assigned to its Dakar–Paris route as reports emerge of an international investigation into suspected trafficking involving some members of the airline’s commercial flight crew.

Senegalese newspaper L’Observateur reported on September 28th that Interpol is investigating suspected transportation of goods for payment by some Air Sénégal cabin crew members. The airline’s management was reportedly formally contacted in connection with the investigation.

According to L’Observateur, investigators are examining allegations that some crew members transported goods on behalf of a company established in France in exchange for payment. Items mentioned in the investigation reportedly include car bumpers, oversized luggage and other parcels. One particularly serious allegation concerns a container of powdered milk that was allegedly found to contain hard drugs.

The reports do not establish that every suspended crew member was involved in the alleged activities, and no individual criminal responsibility has been determined.

The latest revelations come days after Air Sénégal temporarily removed its Senegalese commercial cabin crew from the Dakar–Paris route.

Seneweb reported that the precautionary measure followed allegations that some employees had been carrying parcels for private individuals or businesses in exchange for money, a practice commonly known in Senegal as “GP”. The activity is reportedly prohibited under rules governing Air Sénégal’s cabin crew.

Some of the parcel transportation was allegedly charged at rates of up to €15 per kilogram, approximately 10,000 CFA francs. Air Sénégal opened an internal investigation to determine individual responsibility before deciding whether disciplinary action should follow.

The suspension has reportedly been in effect since September 17th. In the meantime, Air Sénégal is using foreign cabin crew supplied by MyWay under an ACMI arrangement, under which an operator provides aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance.

The reported Interpol investigation takes the matter beyond Air Sénégal’s internal disciplinary process. According to L’Observateur, investigators are seeking to identify those involved and determine the scale and organisation of the alleged operation, including reported links to France.

SeneNews also reported allegations involving an earlier case concerning Air Sénégal employees on the Dakar–New York route. According to the report, 13 cabin crew members had previously been implicated in transporting goods and were allegedly paid between $250 and $300 per suitcase. Those employees were reportedly removed from the Dakar–Paris route for a year rather than dismissed.

Air Sénégal management was quoted in the latest reporting as indicating that it would await the outcome of the investigations before taking action against anyone found responsible.

The case comes at a sensitive time for Senegal’s national airline. Earlier this year, the Senegalese government acknowledged serious operational and financial difficulties at Air Sénégal and ordered work on a recovery plan, refinancing and recapitalisation of the carrier.

Air Sénégal had not publicly issued a detailed statement on the reported Interpol investigation as of September 28th.

The allegations remain under investigation. The reported discovery of drugs, the existence and extent of any organised trafficking operation, and the responsibility of individual employees have not been established by a court.