A Canadian airline has warned against traveling to the Dominican Republic after five of its crew were among 11 people detained in the country when 200 packages of alleged cocaine were seized on a plane in early April.
Pivot Airlines told Global News that crew members detained earlier this month have already been released on bail but must remain in the country.
The alleged drug arrest took place on April 6th at Punta Cana International Airport, according to the country’s National Directorate for Drug Control.
Pivot Airlines said five of the crew members found and reported what they considered smuggling to the aircraft maintenance department. They were then detained, the airline said.
Read more: Canadians were detained in the Dominican Republic after the discovery of packages of alleged cocaine on the plane
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In a statement, Pivot Airlines warned of threats to the safety of its crew and called on anyone traveling to the country to make alternative plans.
“The ongoing prosecution and credible threats to the lives of our crew in the Dominican Republic raise serious concerns for all who travel to the country, including those considering a holiday in the Dominican Republic,” a spokesman said. “We believe that this incident should make all travelers consider creating alternative travel plans.
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The airline said its crew had received threats “both inside and outside the prison”.
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“While we recently managed to secure their release on bail, the condition for their release was that they remain in the Dominican Republic until the issue is resolved,” the spokesman said.
In a press release on April 6, the National Directorate of Drug Control said nine Canadians, one from India and another from the Dominican Republic, had been “questioned to determine their possible involvement.”
Global Affairs Canada said it was aware of the detention of Canadian citizens in the Dominican Republic and “provides consular assistance and contacts with Canadian families” in a statement on 13 April.
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– with files from Hannah Jackson from Global News
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