A Thai Airways International flight attendant has been arrested on charges of smuggling untaxed brand-name products from Italy.
Sutheerat Siripalanon, the national carrier’s director for in-flight services, said the company had a policy to forbid employees from smuggling illicit goods and from exceeding the specified allowances for products with intent to avoid import duty, Thai media reported on Saturday.
The airline closely monitors suspicious behaviour by staff and alerts customs officials to arrest offending employees, said Mr Sutheerat.
Following a tip-off, customs officials arrested an attendant found to have brought in goods exceeding the limit of allowances to avoid tax payments. She had boarded a THAI flight from Italy.
THAI is preparing to take disciplinary action against the employee, whose name was not released. She could face the maximum punishment of being sacked, said Mr Sutheerat.
TV Channel 3 reported that several brand-name products, such as belts and bags, were found concealed under the flight attendant’s clothing.