Body found on crashed aircraft with cocaine identified

The body found on the wrecked blue and white Beechcraft aircraft which was discovered with a quantity of cocaine at Issano, Middle Mazaruni River on Monday last has been identified as a 49-year-old Brazilian national, Alessandro Eduardo Petravicies.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told the News Room that Alessandro was positively identified on Thursday.

The Crime Chief further confirmed that investigators have established a linkage between the aircraft found with the drugs and another red and white Cessna which crash landed at the 9 Miles Airstrip at Issano on Sunday night.

Regional Police Commander Dion Moore said that documents were also found on the Beechcraft which belongs to the injured occupant who was reportedly aboard the Cessna aircraft. The injured man, who suffered a broken arm, was on Thursday transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment and remains under Police guard.

Two other foreign nationals from the Cessna aircraft were also arrested and remain in Police custody.

The Guyana Police Force later stated that 390 kg of cocaine was found on the Beechcraft which was found some 600 yards away from the 9 Miles Airstrip at about 12:05h on Monday.

However, the Cessna aircraft after being searched thoroughly did not reveal anything illegal.

The Police Force reported that Google Translator was used to question the men, who claimed they were heading to Suriname with another aircraft when the said aircraft developed mechanical problems.

Police took the three men into custody and seized their personal belongings namely a cellphone; Satellite phone, Identification cards and other items.