Former UK soldier who led failed Equatorial Guinea coup dies at 72: report
Police seize two tonnes of cocaine in Guinea-Bissau
4:31 CAT | 10 Sep 2024
Image: Voz do Povo via X
Authorities in Guinea-Bissau say they have seized 2.63 tonnes of cocaine that was found on a plane at the capital’s international airport.
The plane had come from Venezuela, the Reuters news agency reports citing a police statement.
On Saturday, at least 78 bales of cocaine were discovered, which local reports say is the largest drugs seizure in the country’s history.
The West African country is known as a key transit point in global drug trafficking. This has led to the UN to calling it a “narco-state”.
A local newspaper has reported that the plane was registered in Mexico.
All five of the crew members were detained, including the pilot. Among those in custody are two Mexicans, one Colombian, one Ecuadorian and one Brazilian.
The suspects were due in court on Monday.
Authorities say the seizure, which was dubbed “Operation Landing”, was done in close co-operation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre–Narcotics, a European organisation.
According to a local report, the police are working on dismantling the entire network involved in this drug trafficking incident.
The authorities in Bissau have for years been trying to deal with the country being used as a conduit for narcotics destined for Europe.
Since independence from Portugal in 1974, the country has experienced nine coups, leaving it with weak state institutions.
Some say this has made the country a fertile ground for drug barons.
Earlier in 2024, the son of Guinea-Bissau’s ex-president was sentenced to over six years in prison by a US court for leading an international heroin trafficking ring.
“Operation Landing”, Drug-carrying aircraft intercepted at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau: On Saturday, September 7, 2024, the Judicial Police of Guinea-Bissau in collaboration with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued a statement in which it announced the seizure… pic.twitter.com/zQ9QiFwj4S
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) September 9, 2024
Sábado 7 de septiembre, Guinea Bissau detuvo un jet privado q transportaba cerca de 3 ton. de cocaína
en el aeropuerto Osvaldo Viera de Bissau.
Incautación de 2.633,1 kg (2,6 ton.) de cocaína a bordo de un avión Gulfstream IV, matrícula XA-SBT. México; Con origen desde Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/a9bnjChXpR— Joankelin Sánchez. (@joankelincuba) September 9, 2024
Source: Reuters
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