Vietnam Airlines has banned its flight attendants on short and medium-length international routes from bringing large bags or suitcases to prevent smuggling.

Aircrew members are only allowed to use large suitcases for routes to Europe, Australia or special aircraft with long stays abroad. All bags used for holding their clothes and other daily items must be fit into one suitcase.

Vietnam Airlines has requested its branches, including ones abroad to strictly adhere to the new regulation.

The move is among Vietnam Airlines’ measures to prevent flight attendants from smuggling on international routes. Recently, the Japanese media reported that a crew member from Vietnam Airlines was arrested in that country under suspicion for smuggling stolen cosmetics and clothes.

Previously, members of Vietnam Airlines craft were permitted to take hand luggage and a suitcase weighing no more than 32kg. Although, separate gates at airports were permitted for crew members, their suitcases were also checked by customs officers at airports as other passengers.