Difference between revisions of "2006 Mexico DC-9 drug bust"
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The plane "was [[Howard Dean]]'s presidential campaign plane in 2004".<ref name=spt/> | The plane "was [[Howard Dean]]'s presidential campaign plane in 2004".<ref name=spt/> | ||
| − | + | [[Skyway Communications]], the parent company of [[Skyway Aircraft]] in Clearwater, arranged to purchase the DC-9 (tail number N900SA) via a stock swap with a Costa Rica-based firm called Dupont Investment Fund #57289, in November 2004, according to a filing with the [[SEC]].<ref>http://www.secinfo.com/d1zWxj.16r.d.htm</ref> However, the jet was ultimately registered with the [[FAA]] in August 2005 by a company called [[Royal Sons]] Inc. | |
| − | + | in exchange for 28,000,000 shares of stock<ref>[http://sec.edgar-online.com/2004/12/20/0001070876-04-000212/Section2.asp Skyway Form 8K details]</ref> in December, 2004, though photographs show the SkyWay logo to have been painted on the aircraft at least eight months before.<ref>[http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0562516/M/ Airlines.net image]</ref> | |
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| + | [Daniel Hopsicker]] writes that "Royal Sons Motor Yacht Sales, Inc. DBA Royal Sons" and a company owned by [[Brent Kovar]] (a friend of [[Tom DeLay]]) called Skyway Communications Holding Corp, which jointly signed a loan with United Bank and Trust Company in St. Petersburg, FL. for $1.5 million.<ref name=mcp20060417/> | ||
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| + | It was reportedly sold to an unknown Venezuelan buyer only days before it was apprehended in Mexico.<ref name=nn49>http://www.narconews.com/Issue49/article2989.html</ref> This may fit the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' report that a "man identifying himself as [[Jorge Corrales]] said he needed a plane for a traveling soccer team. The plane's owner, [[Fred Geffon]], needed the money" and received six payments from Corrales totaling $1.047-million.<ref name=spt/> [[Frederick J. Geffon]], president of [[Royal Sons]], was a shareholder in Skyway Communications and his company was a major creditor in the Skyway Communications bankruptcy.<ref>http://narcosphere.narconews.com/userfiles/70/skyway.bankrupt.filing.initial.pdf</ref><ref>http://narcosphere.narconews.com/userfiles/70/Skyway.equity.shareholders.pdf</ref><ref name=nn49/> | ||
==='Repairs' in Venezuela=== | ==='Repairs' in Venezuela=== | ||
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==The Flight== | ==The Flight== | ||
| − | The aircraft departed [[Simón Bolívar International Airport (Venezuela)|Simón Bolívar International Airport]] in [[Caracas, Venezuela]] on the afternoon of April 10, 2006, preceded by a smaller jet, possibly a Falcon business jet of [[Mexican]] registry (XB-IYK). | + | [[image:skywap.jpg|right|300px]] |
| + | The aircraft departed [[Simón Bolívar International Airport (Venezuela)|Simón Bolívar International Airport]] in [[Caracas, Venezuela]] on the afternoon of April 10, 2006. It was painted with the distinctive blue and white color color scheme of official U.S. Government planes, with an official-looking seal painted on its side, announcing "SKY WAY AIRCRAFT - PROTECTION OF AMERICA'S SKIES", with a familiar eagle and olive branch motif. The DC-9 was preceded by a smaller executive jet, possibly a Falcon business jet of [[Mexican]] registry (XB-IYK). | ||
===The cargo=== | ===The cargo=== | ||
[[image:128 black bags.jpg|right|300px|thumbnail|Artists impression of the luggage]] | [[image:128 black bags.jpg|right|300px|thumbnail|Artists impression of the luggage]] | ||
| − | It is unknown where, perhaps in Caracas or perhaps Columbia,<ref name=spt/> the plane was loaded with 5.5 tons of cocaine, packed in 128 pieces of identical black suitcases with the word "PRIVATE" stenciled on the side.<ref name=mcp20060417>http://www.madcowprod.com/2006/04/17/owners-of-plane-seized-with-5-5-tons-of-cocaine/</ref> | + | It is unknown where, perhaps in Caracas or perhaps Columbia,<ref name=spt/> the plane was loaded with 5.5 tons of cocaine, packed in 128 pieces of identical black suitcases with the word "PRIVATE" stenciled on the side.<ref name=mcp20060417>http://www.madcowprod.com/2006/04/17/owners-of-plane-seized-with-5-5-tons-of-cocaine/</ref> Approximately 1.5 hours into the flight, it reportedly returned to the airport and refueled before resuming its flight to Toluca, Mexico.{{cn}} |
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| − | Approximately 1.5 hours into the flight, it reportedly returned to the airport and refueled before resuming its flight to Toluca, | ||
===Emergency landing in Ciudad del Carmen=== | ===Emergency landing in Ciudad del Carmen=== | ||
| − | At some time into the flight they made an emergency landing at the Ciudad del Carmen airport, 350 miles to the southwest of Cancun claiming hydraulic problems with the landing gear. | + | At some time into the flight they made an emergency landing at the Ciudad del Carmen airport, 350 miles to the southwest of Cancun 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. One source names the official pilot as "Alberto Damiani", but notes that he was not flying the plane.<ref>[http://oraclesyndicate.twoday.net/stories/2070518 - DC 9 Kokainflieger war in Kolumbien]</ref> |
==The bust== | ==The bust== | ||
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==Fallout== | ==Fallout== | ||
Both before and after the bust, the aircraft was listed for sale on the website of United Flite (with identical - and therefore mendacious statistics of its flying time) a company with the same address as several aviation companies, including Royal Sons.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20060530131328/http://www.unitedflite.com/showspecs.php?ad=9 </ref><ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20060821224309/http://unitedflite.com/showspecs.php?ad=9</ref> This information was removed as "irrelevant" by Wikipedia administrator "Akradecki". [[Daniel Hopsicker]] opines that this is a [[CIA]] front company.<ref>[http://www.madcowprod.com/04172006.html Mad Cow Morning News - Plane With Five Tons Of Coke Owned By Royal Sons]</ref> | Both before and after the bust, the aircraft was listed for sale on the website of United Flite (with identical - and therefore mendacious statistics of its flying time) a company with the same address as several aviation companies, including Royal Sons.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20060530131328/http://www.unitedflite.com/showspecs.php?ad=9 </ref><ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20060821224309/http://unitedflite.com/showspecs.php?ad=9</ref> This information was removed as "irrelevant" by Wikipedia administrator "Akradecki". [[Daniel Hopsicker]] opines that this is a [[CIA]] front company.<ref>[http://www.madcowprod.com/04172006.html Mad Cow Morning News - Plane With Five Tons Of Coke Owned By Royal Sons]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Royal Sons’ [[Frederick Geffon]] pleads ignorance and stated that "I just chalked it all up to a bad experience".<ref name=nn49/> | ||
==Investigation== | ==Investigation== | ||
| − | The [[U.S. Department of Homeland Security]] reportedly interviewed the officials interviewed Fred Geffon about the cocaine | + | The [[U.S. Department of Homeland Security]] reportedly interviewed the officials interviewed Fred Geffon about the cocaine found on board. No charges were forthcoming.<ref name=spt/> |
{{SMWDocs}} | {{SMWDocs}} | ||
Revision as of 05:52, 28 June 2015
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| Date | April 10, 2006 |
| Location | Mexico |
| Description | A DC-9 made an emergency landing and was found to be containing over 5 tonnes of cocaine. The pilot "disappeared", unnamed, and the plane was deregistered and sold within days to an unknown customer in Venezuela. |
An aging DC-9 which was not fit to fly[1] used for moving cocaine from Venezuela to USA had an engine failure and made an emergency landing in Mexico. Michael Braun, Chief of Operations of the DEA testified in congress that 5.6 tonnes of cocaine were found aboard the plane.[2] The pilots were never apprehended, and the plane also "disappeared". Arrests are reported, but no one is known to have gone to trial as a result of this deep event.[3]
Contents
Official Narrative
The article was created on Wikipedia in 2006, and although soon after it was created it was nominated for speedy deletion, it remains there as of 2015. The Wikipedia talk page notes that "most of the mainstream media sources on this story have removed the stories for some reason",[4] so the official narrative would seem to be more or less that this didn't happen, or, as a senior editor once said about the BBC]'s premature report of the collapse of a skyscraper in New York: "If we reported [it], it would have been an error - no more than that."[5]
Plane History
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 plane "was Howard Dean's presidential campaign plane in 2004".[1]
Skyway Communications, the parent company of Skyway Aircraft in Clearwater, arranged to purchase the DC-9 (tail number N900SA) via a stock swap with a Costa Rica-based firm called Dupont Investment Fund #57289, in November 2004, according to a filing with the SEC.[6] However, the jet was ultimately registered with the FAA in August 2005 by a company called Royal Sons Inc.
in exchange for 28,000,000 shares of stock[7] in December, 2004, though photographs show the SkyWay logo to have been painted on the aircraft at least eight months before.[8]
[Daniel Hopsicker]] writes that "Royal Sons Motor Yacht Sales, Inc. DBA Royal Sons" and a company owned by Brent Kovar (a friend of Tom DeLay) called Skyway Communications Holding Corp, which jointly signed a loan with United Bank and Trust Company in St. Petersburg, FL. for $1.5 million.[9]
It was reportedly sold to an unknown Venezuelan buyer only days before it was apprehended in Mexico.[10] This may fit the Tampa Bay Times report that a "man identifying himself as Jorge Corrales said he needed a plane for a traveling soccer team. The plane's owner, Fred Geffon, needed the money" and received six payments from Corrales totaling $1.047-million.[1] Frederick J. Geffon, president of Royal Sons, was a shareholder in Skyway Communications and his company was a major creditor in the Skyway Communications bankruptcy.[11][12][10]
'Repairs' in Venezuela
The FAA stated that an aviation inspector had authorized one flight to a hangar in Caracas, Venezuela, so the plane could be repaired, noting that overseas repairs would have been cheaper. The plane flew to Venezuela, but was not repaired there.[1]
The Flight
The aircraft departed Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela on the afternoon of April 10, 2006. It was painted with the distinctive blue and white color color scheme of official U.S. Government planes, with an official-looking seal painted on its side, announcing "SKY WAY AIRCRAFT - PROTECTION OF AMERICA'S SKIES", with a familiar eagle and olive branch motif. The DC-9 was preceded by a smaller executive jet, possibly a Falcon business jet of Mexican registry (XB-IYK).
The cargo
It is unknown where, perhaps in Caracas or perhaps Columbia,[1] the plane was loaded with 5.5 tons of cocaine, packed in 128 pieces of identical black suitcases with the word "PRIVATE" stenciled on the side.[9] Approximately 1.5 hours into the flight, it reportedly returned to the airport and refueled before resuming its flight to Toluca, Mexico.[citation needed]
Emergency landing in Ciudad del Carmen
At some time into the flight they made an emergency landing at the Ciudad del Carmen airport, 350 miles to the southwest of Cancun 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. One source names the official pilot as "Alberto Damiani", but notes that he was not flying the plane.[13]
The bust
The Mexican police approached the aircraft with drug-sniffing dogs and the ground crew attempted to keep them away, but to no avail. The dogs identified the presence of drugs and the police entered the aircraft, possibly arresting the co-pilot, Miguel Vicente Vázquez Guerra or (Carmelo Vázquez Guerra?), a Colombian National with Venezuelan passport.[14]
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.
Fallout
Both before and after the bust, the aircraft was listed for sale on the website of United Flite (with identical - and therefore mendacious statistics of its flying time) a company with the same address as several aviation companies, including Royal Sons.[15][16] This information was removed as "irrelevant" by Wikipedia administrator "Akradecki". Daniel Hopsicker opines that this is a CIA front company.[17]
Royal Sons’ Frederick Geffon pleads ignorance and stated that "I just chalked it all up to a bad experience".[10]
Investigation
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reportedly interviewed the officials interviewed Fred Geffon about the cocaine found on board. No charges were forthcoming.[1]
Rating
19 August 2016 Robin "Cocaine One" - 5½ tons of cocaine aboard a plane that lands in Mexico. It then disappears.Many people are still unaware that things like this can happen. The CIA connected plane was later used for rendition. Porter Goss suddenly resigns as CIA Director for unstated reasons. Corporate media uninterested.
References
- ↑ a b c d e f http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/01/Northpinellas/Plane_with_a_past_dis.shtml
- ↑ http://www.dea.gov/pr/speeches-testimony/2006t/ct042606p.html
- ↑ http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/01/news_pf/Northpinellas/Plane_with_a_past_dis.shtml
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:2006_Mexico_DC-9_drug_bust
- ↑ https://wikispooks.com/wiki/9-11/WTC7/Collapse/Censorship#BBC_Response
- ↑ http://www.secinfo.com/d1zWxj.16r.d.htm
- ↑ Skyway Form 8K details
- ↑ Airlines.net image
- ↑ a b http://www.madcowprod.com/2006/04/17/owners-of-plane-seized-with-5-5-tons-of-cocaine/
- ↑ a b c http://www.narconews.com/Issue49/article2989.html
- ↑ http://narcosphere.narconews.com/userfiles/70/skyway.bankrupt.filing.initial.pdf
- ↑ http://narcosphere.narconews.com/userfiles/70/Skyway.equity.shareholders.pdf
- ↑ - DC 9 Kokainflieger war in Kolumbien
- ↑ http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/primera/34558.html
- ↑ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060530131328/http://www.unitedflite.com/showspecs.php?ad=9
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20060821224309/http://unitedflite.com/showspecs.php?ad=9
- ↑ Mad Cow Morning News - Plane With Five Tons Of Coke Owned By Royal Sons
External links
- FAA - N-Number Inquiry Results for N900SA
- Airliners.net - Photographs Of Aircraft
- Flight Track Information for N900SA
Rating
19 August 2016 Robin "Cocaine One" - 5½ tons of cocaine aboard a plane that lands in Mexico. It then disappears.Many people are still unaware that things like this can happen. The CIA connected plane was later used for rendition. Porter Goss suddenly resigns as CIA Director for unstated reasons. Corporate media uninterested.
