Body of foreign national, cocaine found onboard 2 Brazilian aircraft in Reg 7

…3 others taken into custody

One day after three foreign nationals and an aircraft were found in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), another aircraft was discovered, this time with a large amount of cocaine and a dead man.
According to Regional Commander, Superintendent Deon Moore, the second aircraft was found several hundred yards away from the Nine Miles Airstrip, Issano – where the first one was located.

The police have since confirmed that along with the human remains, a huge amount of cocaine was also found in the crashed aeroplane. On Sunday, Police acting on information received proceeded to the airstrip located in the Middle Mazaruni area and a red and white 206 Cessna aircraft was found.
In addition, three men – the 38-year-old pilot from Boa Vista; a 29-year-old pilot from Temeremo, Venezuela; and a 35-year-old internet technician from Manaus, Brazil – were found in close proximity of the aeroplane.
Ranks, however, questioned the three men via Google Translate, where it was disclosed that they were heading to Suriname with a second aircraft when it developed mechanical issues.

The men claimed that this forced them to crash land, causing one of the occupants to suffer a fractured right arm and minor bruises about his face.
While Police could not find the other aircraft, the one discovered was examined but there was no visible damage. Along with the three persons, nothing illegal was found in the aircraft other than a cell phone, satellite phone, identification documents and other items. Nevertheless, the three men were arrested and taken into custody.
The discovery of the second aircraft was made hours after by the police ranks who went in search of the missing plane. Investigations are ongoing and the aircraft remains on the ground under Police security.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Guyana’s airspace remains closed with only authorisation for special flights. Even under normal conditions, aircraft cannot enter the country or pass through without permission.
Back in September 2016, a Joint Services patrol discovered an illegal aircraft hidden just off of the Yupukari Airstrip, Rupununi, with United States registration N-767-Z.

A team of investigators from the GDF, GPF, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority was subsequently deployed to the area to conduct investigations and were able to determine that the registration number was bogus.
A one-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to probe the discovery of the illegal aircraft appointed Retired Brigadier Edward Collins to investigate, examine, advise and report on all aspects under which the foreign aircraft had entered the country. The CoI proved that the aircraft entered Guyana illegally.
Later in August 2017, an illegal airstrip was unearthed about five kilometres West of Santa Fe, Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), by members of the Guyana Defence Force. Following a closer inspection of the perimeter of the airstrip, several dug out trenches were found. They were covered with black plastic and dried branches.
Upon removing the plastic and branches, several items were found concealed in the holes; including a chain saw and fuel drums. In addition, a quarter drum of aviation fuel was also found at the airstrip. At least 12 abandoned camps were found in close proximity of the airstrip.
Two weeks later, Police intercepted an illegal aircraft minutes after it landed. A search was conducted during which over a dozen 10-gallon jars were found hidden in the bushes. The party had also observed that a long strip of land measuring one mile in length and about 50 feet in width was cleared.
An inter-agency probe unearthed that the aircraft, which initially had a Colombian registration number, was actually registered to Brazil’s third largest bank, Banco Bradesco. (G12)