Bogota, Mar 11 (EFE).– Colombian authorities arrested in Bogota 10 employees of Avianca airlines as part of an international operation against drug trafficking and money laundering, the company said in a statement.

Avianca said the 10 taken into custody as part of Operation Pajaro Azul (Bluebird) were turned over to the appropriate authorities, but gave no further details about the captives.

The interim CEO of Avianca, Alvaro Jaramillo Buitrago, said that organization of the operation was begun several years ago by the airline together with authorities of Colombia and other countries to stop the company from being used for money laundering and the trafficking of drugs and other substances.

“The operation carried out this Thursday was part of a joint project aimed at increasing the airline’s security in transporting people and goods,” the executive said.

Avianca flies directly to 98 destinations in 26 countries of the Americas and Europe with a fleet of 181 short-, medium- and long-range aircraft, and, through its membership in the Star Alliance, offers connections to more than 1,200 destinations in 195 countries on the five continents. EFE