Thu, Sep 28, 2006
Authorities Seize Pilots, Passenger... And $13 Million In
Heroin
Be careful who you let use your plane! Belgian police impounded
a Cessna Citation of Irish registry on Tuesday. Why? Because a man
carrying over 100 pounds of heroin tried to board the aircraft...
and police were waiting for him.
The drugs are thought to be worth around $13 million.
Ireland's RTE reports the jet flew out of Weston Executive
Airport in County Kildare, Ireland to pick up a passenger in
southern Belgium. All seemed well... but agents with the Garda
National Drugs Unit were keeping an eye on the plane, as part of an
ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in Ireland.
Based on information gleaned during their investigation... they
coordinated with Belgian police to have the aircraft impounded. The
pilot, the co-pilot and the 36-year-old passenger were arrested by
authorities.
The investigation also resulted in further arrests in Dublin and
Holland.
The plane's owner, businessman Jim Mansfield, told RTE through a
spokesman the flight was operated by the National Flight Center.
That company, based at Weston, is owned by Captain Kieran
O'Connor.
Weston Executive is privately-owned by Mansfield... and there is
no permanent customs presence there. Mansfield's spokesman said
another aircraft operator, not identified in the report, was using
Mansfield's Citation because theirs was down for maintenance.
Mansfield expressed shock over the events and said he and the
National Flight Center will cooperate fully with authorities.
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