Suriname-bound cocaine-laden plane: Brazilians granted $3M bail each on narco-trafficking charge
Almost two months after they were remanded to prison following the discovery of over 900 pounds of cocaine onboard an aircraft that crash-landed at Orealla in Region Six, two Brazilian nationals were on Thursday each granted $3 million bail on a narco-trafficking charge.
From (L): Salim Nobrega De Alimser and Andre Pereira during their first appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court
Salim Nobrega De Alimser, 60, and Andre Pereira, 30, were jointly charged with the offence back in May following their appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that they had the illegal substance in their possession on May 20, 2021.
It was reported that the green and white Beechcraft Bonanza plane, carrying registration number PT-SRR, crash-landed in the Amerindian community of Orealla on the Corentyne River in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) after encountering difficulties.
The cocaine bricks found onboard the crashed aircraft
The two occupants in the aircraft when it crash-landed were Brazilian nationals – one of them was the pilot. The men reportedly told residents of Orealla that they were travelling and visiting several areas to do sport fishing and other leisure activities, but encountered difficulties with the weather.
They further claimed that the aircraft was almost out of fuel, and they had gotten lost after circling the area for some time. However, the men were subsequently accosted by Police ranks, who questioned them about their presence in the area. They then took the ranks to the aircraft, where a search conducted unearthed a quantity of cocaine.
With a street value of about US$30,000 per kilogram, the estimated cost of the drug is $2.9 billion.
Shortly after the discovery, ranks of the Disciplined Forces and agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were mobilised and dispatched to the scene from Camp Ayanganna via the GDF’s Bell 412 helicopter.
CANU had reported that from all indications, the aircraft was heading to Suriname. However, in addition to the 450 bricks of cocaine which each weighed one kilogram, two Global Positioning Systems, one radio set, three smartphones, two identification cards, and the registration documents of the aircraft were found at the crash site.
The Police have also said that Nobrega and Pereira illegally entered Guyana.
