Mexicans seize huge cocaine haul ~ On a Venezuelan airplane headed for US, 5 1/2 tons.....

BBC ^ | Wednesday, 12 April 2006, 04:46 GMT 05:46 UK | staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Mexicans seize huge cocaine haul

General Carlos Gaytan said the Mexicans were tipped off

Mexican officials say they have seized five-and-a-half tonnes of cocaine from a commercial aircraft that landed after flying from Venezuela.

The drugs are said to have a potential street value of up to $100m (£57m).

The cocaine was reportedly packed in more than 100 suitcases marked "private". Three people were arrested.

Mexican officials say that cocaine is increasingly being imported from Colombia via Venezuela, with the US being the ultimate destination.

In this case the army was waiting for the plane as it landed at the airport of Ciudad de Carmen, 880km (550 miles) east of Mexico City, after being tipped off by Venezuelan authorities, said Mexican General Carlos Gaytan.

The co-pilot of the aircraft was arrested. The pilot and co-pilot of another plane, which was believed to be ready to take the cocaine on to the next location, were also detained.

A US report in March said Venezuela has become a key transit point for drugs because of "rampant corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement and a weak judicial system".

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ended co-operation with the US Drug Enforcement Agency, accusing it of spying.

[MadeInAmerica]

Now...Mexican military can send the drugs thru and keep the money.

[xcamel]

Kinda sounds like an act of war to me.. (5.5 tons of chemical weapons ???)

[billorites]

Whoa, Dude!

[battlecry]

Somebody is not paying the protection money. Heads are going to roll on this.

[proud_yank]

PING – Hugo is at it again!

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[Riley]

Yup. And there's that Clintonian finger-wagging-at-the-camera thing again.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Earlier items relative from Venezuelan airplanes:

Venezuelan military planes haul racehorses and cash

we need to shut down the border for aircraft also.

[Cowboy Bob]

Somebody is not paying the protection money. Heads are going to roll on this.

Those were my thoughts too.

[doorgunner69]

Hmmm, 5.5 tons, ~100+ suitcases, that makes it about 100 lbs per suitcase. Better not check those through your favorite airline.........

[jazusamo]

[Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ended co-operation with the US Drug Enforcement Agency, accusing it of spying.]

Hughie is probably right about the DEA spying. When planes coming from Venezuela carry 5 and a half tons of cocaine, they should be spying.

[FormerLib]

Let me guess, they took the coke, loaded the plane full of impoverished Mexicans that Vincente Fox would like to do without, and then they sent the plane on its way to the US.

[jw777]

Well look at Mexico. Stopping something. And within their own borders, no less.

[rovenstinez]

Thanks, once in awhile Mexicans are capable of doing a GOOD JOB, and this time, they acted in honor. Salute.

[Holicheese]

By the time the plane reached the hanger, there was insufficient evidence to hold the crew and the plane all were released.
In other news, a party broke out down th estreet from the airport. It has been going non-stop for 6 days.

[Element187]

Damn my 8-balls are going to get alot more expensive... president Fox is just going to resell the confiscated drugs in America anyways.

[Holicheese]

They only wanted to sell the cocaine that americans did not want to sell!

[ARCADIA]

Hey! You can't do that, you are cutting into Mexico's turf.

[adam_az]

He should call up his buddy Manuel Noriega and ask how he's doing.

Hopefully they're roommates soon.

Wonder which will get the "top bunk?"

[Malesherbes]

Chavez forgot to pay the "mordida" to the Mexicans. He'll know better next time.