2006 Mexico DC-9 drug bust

The DC-9 aircraft with the former tail number N900SA (S/N 45775) was involved in drug smuggling and was caught with 5.5 tons of cocaine onboard after landing in Mexico on April 10, 2006. On April 13, 2006, the aircraft was deregistered and sold to an unknown customer in Venezuela. In December 2006, Mexican Newspaper Reforma reported the previously seized aircraft was being operated by the Procuraduría General de la República (PGR) under Daniel Cabeza de Vaca and based in Mexico City ^[1][2] as XC-LJZ.^[3]

Background

Originally manufactured in 1966 for Trans World Airlines as N1061T, the aircraft has had a long career flying for various individuals and companies, including Tracinda Investment (N241TC), Kenny Rogers (N9KR), Southmark Corporation (N89SM), the Seattle Seahawks (N40SH), Aircraft 45775, Inc, and HW Aviation.

The DC-9 was traded to SkyWay Communications Holding by duPont Investment Fund 57289, Inc in exchange for 28,000,000 shares of stock^{[citation needed][4]} in December 2004, though photographs show the SkyWay logo to have been painted on the aircraft at least eight months before.^[5] The FAA records, however, show the aircraft as registered to Royal Sons LLC. SkyWay Communications had previously announced the purchase of another DC-9, tail number N120NE (S/N 45731), to act as an "airborne test environment for new SWYC products and services".^[6] It has been alleged by author Daniel Hopsicker that the companies involved are CIA front-companies.^[7]

Drug seizure

The aircraft departed Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela on the afternoon of April 10, 2006. Approximately 1½ hours into the flight, it reportedly returned to the airport and refueled before resuming its flight to Toluca, Mexico. However, some time into the flight they made an emergency landing at the Ciudad del Carmen airport, claiming hydraulic problems with the landing gear. The flight crew told the ground crew to keep people away from the aircraft, claiming leaking oil could be hazardous and that a tire could explode. The pilot reportedly left the area at this time and was never caught or identified.

The Mexican police approached the aircraft with drug-sniffing dogs and the ground crew attempted to keep them away, without success. The dogs identified the presence of drugs and the police entered the aircraft, arresting the co-pilot, Miguel Vicente Vázquez Guerra. Police also found 5.5 tons of cocaine packed into 128 identical black suitcases.

A Falcon business jet of Mexican registry (XB-IYK) was reportedly making a rendezvous with the DC-9 and its crew was also arrested. There are some reports that say Mexican soldiers patrolling the airport observed a Falcon arriving several days before the DC-9's arrival. The two Mexican pilots were seen in the area throughout the next few days and reportedly attempted to pay for the DC-9 to make an emergency landing after the airport closed. It is unknown if this is the same aircraft and crew that was arrested.

The DEA lists the bust as one of Mexico's largest in recent history, using it as an example of international cooperation against drug trafficking and a part of "Operation All Inclusive".^[8][9]

Notes

1. ^ Y estrenan avión... decomisado Abel Barajas. Reforma. Mexico City: Dec 24, 2006. pg. 1
2. ^ Utilizan avión incautado Palabra. Saltillo, Mexico: Apr 11, 2007. pg. 16
3. ^ http://www.edinavtn.co.uk/assets/files/PDFs/DC9.pdf
4. ^ Skyway Form 8K details
5. ^ Airlines.net image
6. ^ [1]
7. ^ Daniel Hopsicker. Mad Cow Morning News - Plane With Five Tons Of Coke Owned By Royal Sons. April 17, 2006.
8. ^ Released by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. International Narcotics Control Strategy Report-2007. March 2007
9. ^ Statement of Michael Braun Chief of Operations Drug Enforcement Administration Before the House Government Reform Committee Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources.

External links

• - DC 9 Kokainflieger war in Kolumbien - German language article on the incident
• FAA - N-Number Inquiry Results for N900SA
• Airliners.net - Photographs Of Aircraft
• XC-LJZ
• Flight Track Information for N900SA
• St. Petersburg Times. Plane with a past disappears after drug bust. By AARON SHAROCKMAN. Published July 1, 2007.