…suspected cocaine found on board, two arrested
A Beechcraft model aircraft bearing registration PT-PRR crash-landed at the village of Orealla on the Corentyne River on Thursday afternoon with suspected cocaine on board.
Reports from the village are that the aircraft, a Beechcraft Bonanza H35, landed shortly after 1400hrs on Thursday on a roadway under construction. The road links the village to a site where a new airstrip will be constructed.
According to an eyewitness, the aircraft was heard overhead and soon after, persons heard it landing in the savannah area. Two men, one who appeared older, emerged and were walking to the village in search of fuel when the residents questioned them.
The men reported that they were flying from Brazil to Suriname when they ran out of fuel. They said bad weather also contributed to the crash landing.
The older man related that there was a thunderstorm and after the fuel began to deplete, he searched for a spot to land. Residents told the Village Voice that the men were arrested by the police and during questioning , they related a different version of their flight. The men related that they were travelling from Guatemala to Suriname .
As such the police searched the aircraft and found neatly wrapped packets aback the six-seater aircraft; the seats were replaced so as to make space for the packets. The men said it was magnesium they were transporting, however, the police opened the packets and related that it tasted like cocaine.
The men were immediately arrested. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The Beechcraft model aircraft has been used in recent years following drug-related operations in the Rupununi. In addition , the Orealla area has been the site of many such incidents, including the construction of illegal airstrips for such operations.
