Illegal aircraft at Yupukari has bogus registration – Investigation ongoing

GINA, GUYANA, Thursday, September 15, 2016

A probe into the discovery of an illegal aircraft at the Yupukari airstrip, Region Nine has thus far revealed that the aircraft’s United States (US) registration number is bogus, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said.

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon.

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon.

Following a tip off, a twin-engine Cessna aircraft, bearing registration number N767Z, was discovered by a joint services patrol at the Yupukari airstrip on September 13.

During a post-Cabinet press briefing today, Minister Harmon said that the aircraft was found partly hidden in bush covered in a camouflage net.

Subsequently, a team comprising officials from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), immediately began an investigation.

Minister Harmon explained that it was found that the registration number was false; in fact, a plane with the exact registration number was seen flying in the US on September 14.

The Minister added that Yupukari and its surrounding areas have had regular and constant surveillance, because in the past, an airstrip not very far from Yupukari was connected to an illicit drug trade.

Investigations are ongoing, as the team is checking the aircraft to determine whether there was any cargo which was disposed of, Harmon said.

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