Huamúchil, Oaxaca — Mexican authorities intercepted an “unauthorized” aircraft transporting drugs across the state of Oaxaca. Approximately half a ton of cocaine was seized from the plane during the interception Wednesday.
The plane was landed in the state of Oaxaca. Those on board fled before authorities arrived. It is the third large cocaine shipment detected in Mexican territory in a week.
Omar García Harfuch, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection of the Government of Mexico reported “as a result of the ongoing surveillance of national airspace maintained by the Mexican Ministry of Defense, through the Air Force and National Guard, a clandestine aircraft transporting drugs was detected in Oaxaca.
“At the site, 534 packages of cocaine were seized, weighing over half a ton, which translates to millions of doses of the drug destined for street distribution.”
The plane was intercepted after it was found making an unauthorized flight.
the clandestine aircraft was flying over the state of Oaxaca when it intercepted by members of the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena).
“The Ministry of National Defense, through the Air Force, detected a clandestine aircraft in Oaxaca that was transporting drugs,” Harfuch confirmed Wednesday.
The plane was detected during surveillance when personnel noticed the unauthorized flight from the southeast of Tapachula, Chiapas.
“Aircraft were immediately deployed for verification and identification,” Harfuch stated.
In response, authorities detected the landing of the small plane in the town of Huamúchil, Oaxaca where security forces arrived. The cocaine and plane were both seized. There were no arrests announced.
Three times in the past week National Defense has detected cocaine shipments in Mexican territory. On February 11, a joint at-sea effort between Mexican and U.S. authorities lead to the seizure of several tons of cocaine.
On February 18, Mexican authorities located the unauthorized plane carrying 534 packages of cocaine in Oaxaca. On February 19, another at-sea seizure was made, this time seizing 179 packages of cocaine from a semi-submersible vessel. That seizure was also successful due to a joint effort between Mexico and U.S. intelligence forces.
