Vietnamese airline employees have been known to cause a stir from time to time. Earlier this year, actress Ly Nha Ky got a VietJet flight crew into hot water when she was invited into the cockpit mid-flight. Now, it’s Vietnam’s national carrier, Vietnam Airlines that is enduring a bit of controversy after a flight attendant was caught brining 50 iPhone 5s into Vietnam without declaring them.
Early Sunday morning, flight attendant, Bui Ngoc Tuan and her VN106 flight from Paris touched down in Hanoi. When passing through customs, officials found 50 iPhone 5s, none of which were declared on her customs form.
Upon their discovery, Tuan was arrested and her phones seized by the Hanoi police department.
According to police, due to the phones’ value, Tuan may face criminal smuggling charges.
The iPhone 5s, released last week, has sold out across the globe, shooting prices through the roof.
A VNExpress report found that in Vietnam, the 16GB version of the phone is currently sold for VND22 – 28 million, or nearly double the store price. Tuoi Tre even reported prices as high as VND50 million for the same model.
We’re just wondering where the confiscated phones will go…
[Tuoi Tre // Photo via Hieronymus_Bosch]
