http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56534865
Burnt plane found on Corentyne strip -Runway longer than Ogle, wider
than Timehri
-Czech Republic craft carried Venezuelan flag
Stabroek News, article, Tuesday, December 11th 2007
The burnt craft (GDF photo)
The army yesterday morning seized an illegal airstrip located some 80
miles upriver from Orealla in the Corentyne with a burnt-out aircraft
on it along with a still smoldering all terrain vehicle and a bulldozer
- clear signs of a drug operation.
In a press statement last evening the Guyana Defence Force said it is
believed that the airstrip was constructed to facilitate transshipment
of narcotics and the conduct of illegal activities. This is the second
such operation within a year by the men in uniform and it comes at a
time when the government continues to be criticized for not doing
enough to fight drug trafficking here.
The operation was launched yesterday morning following the sighting of
the airstrip on Sunday during a routine flight to New River by a GDF
pilot who on flying over the airstrip noticed the aircraft parked
halfway up the airstrip and several persons clad in dark clothes
emerging from the jungle, the GDF release said. According to the GDF,
the aircraft, a Let 410 turboprop that is manufactured by the Czech
Republic, carried a Venezuelan flag and it appeared that it was
severely damaged after attempting to take off and had skidded off to
the right of the airstrip.
The army said it is felt that the Czech-made aircraft was deliberately
burnt sometime between Sunday and yesterday morning after the persons
had seen the aircraft over-flying the airstrip on Sunday and
anticipated an interdiction operation. The still smoldering all terrain
vehicle and the removal of the bulldozer's starter support this theory,
the GDF statement said adding that there seemed to be extensive
construction works being undertaken at the airstrip since it is some
3600 feet in length, which is longer than the Ogle aerodrome, and 375
feet in width, wider than Timehri runway.
However, only some 1800 feet of it was usable and the construction
seemed geared to upgrading the remainder of the airstrip. According to
the GDF, after seizing the airstrip the troops conducted several
probing patrols and discovered a 25-ft trail that led for some two
miles to the Corentyne River, which suggests that the bulldozer and
other equipment may have been transported via the river.
The bulldozer on the illegal strip (GDF photo)
"The discovery of the airstrip, which is some 10 minutes flying due
southeast from Kwakwani, comes in the wake of the discovery and
destruction of another illegal airstrip in the Orealla area earlier
this year and reports of several aircraft sightings and landings at
remote airstrips in the interior," the GDF said.
Gobeltex
Back in May this year members of the Joint Services had destroyed an
illegal airstrip in the Amerindian village of Gobeltex, some six miles
down the river from Orealla. The joint services had said the airstrip
was in Orealla, Corentyne but residents disputed this. It was thought
that the airstrip was used for drug trafficking. The destruction of
that airstrip by explosives was witnessed by some members of the media.
The GDF had said then that the location of the airstrip was made known
to the lawmen by residents in the area. The lawmen found some 500-plus
gallons of aviation fuel at the location and pots and spoons were also
discovered suggesting that there may have been some occupation of the
area.
Former army spokesman, Earl Edghill had said then that the airstrip was
being used for illegal purposes and did not rule out the possibility
that more such airstrips may be present in the area.
Stabroek News was told by a concerned resident that a number of illegal
airstrips are in areas such as Springlands and Orealla. The resident
was upset at the length of time the lawmen took to act since according
to him for sometime now the information was not only passed to police
in 'B' Division but reports were also made to the police in Georgetown.
The man said that he is extremely concerned because the area is being
used as a major transshipment point for cocaine and he could not
understand why the authorities would not act promptly. He said
residents were aware of what was happening, adding that some are even
involved in the illegal acts. According to the man aircraft would land
in the area from time to time and so it was no big secret.
The police have seen little success in the investigation of illegal
airstrips not even when an aircraft was found as in the case of a
single-engine Cessna aircraft that was discovered abandoned at Kwapau
airstrip, Middle Mazaruni in March 2005. The police seem to have closed
off their investigation in this case even though the owner of the plane
was identified as a Venezuelan.
The man according to reports had acknowledged that the plane was his,
but he said that he did not know about its flight to Guyana. He however
has not approached local authorities to date to repossess the plane.
At present the aircraft is under the control of the Guyana Defence
Force (GDF) and is parked at the Army's hangar at Timehri.
Burnt plane found on Corentyne strip -Runway longer than Ogle, wider
than Timehri
-Czech Republic craft carried Venezuelan flag
Stabroek News, article, Tuesday, December 11th 2007
The burnt craft (GDF photo)
The army yesterday morning seized an illegal airstrip located some 80
miles upriver from Orealla in the Corentyne with a burnt-out aircraft
on it along with a still smoldering all terrain vehicle and a bulldozer
- clear signs of a drug operation.
In a press statement last evening the Guyana Defence Force said it is
believed that the airstrip was constructed to facilitate transshipment
of narcotics and the conduct of illegal activities. This is the second
such operation within a year by the men in uniform and it comes at a
time when the government continues to be criticized for not doing
enough to fight drug trafficking here.
The operation was launched yesterday morning following the sighting of
the airstrip on Sunday during a routine flight to New River by a GDF
pilot who on flying over the airstrip noticed the aircraft parked
halfway up the airstrip and several persons clad in dark clothes
emerging from the jungle, the GDF release said. According to the GDF,
the aircraft, a Let 410 turboprop that is manufactured by the Czech
Republic, carried a Venezuelan flag and it appeared that it was
severely damaged after attempting to take off and had skidded off to
the right of the airstrip.
The army said it is felt that the Czech-made aircraft was deliberately
burnt sometime between Sunday and yesterday morning after the persons
had seen the aircraft over-flying the airstrip on Sunday and
anticipated an interdiction operation. The still smoldering all terrain
vehicle and the removal of the bulldozer's starter support this theory,
the GDF statement said adding that there seemed to be extensive
construction works being undertaken at the airstrip since it is some
3600 feet in length, which is longer than the Ogle aerodrome, and 375
feet in width, wider than Timehri runway.
However, only some 1800 feet of it was usable and the construction
seemed geared to upgrading the remainder of the airstrip. According to
the GDF, after seizing the airstrip the troops conducted several
probing patrols and discovered a 25-ft trail that led for some two
miles to the Corentyne River, which suggests that the bulldozer and
other equipment may have been transported via the river.
The bulldozer on the illegal strip (GDF photo)
"The discovery of the airstrip, which is some 10 minutes flying due
southeast from Kwakwani, comes in the wake of the discovery and
destruction of another illegal airstrip in the Orealla area earlier
this year and reports of several aircraft sightings and landings at
remote airstrips in the interior," the GDF said.
Gobeltex
Back in May this year members of the Joint Services had destroyed an
illegal airstrip in the Amerindian village of Gobeltex, some six miles
down the river from Orealla. The joint services had said the airstrip
was in Orealla, Corentyne but residents disputed this. It was thought
that the airstrip was used for drug trafficking. The destruction of
that airstrip by explosives was witnessed by some members of the media.
The GDF had said then that the location of the airstrip was made known
to the lawmen by residents in the area. The lawmen found some 500-plus
gallons of aviation fuel at the location and pots and spoons were also
discovered suggesting that there may have been some occupation of the
area.
Former army spokesman, Earl Edghill had said then that the airstrip was
being used for illegal purposes and did not rule out the possibility
that more such airstrips may be present in the area.
Stabroek News was told by a concerned resident that a number of illegal
airstrips are in areas such as Springlands and Orealla. The resident
was upset at the length of time the lawmen took to act since according
to him for sometime now the information was not only passed to police
in 'B' Division but reports were also made to the police in Georgetown.
The man said that he is extremely concerned because the area is being
used as a major transshipment point for cocaine and he could not
understand why the authorities would not act promptly. He said
residents were aware of what was happening, adding that some are even
involved in the illegal acts. According to the man aircraft would land
in the area from time to time and so it was no big secret.
The police have seen little success in the investigation of illegal
airstrips not even when an aircraft was found as in the case of a
single-engine Cessna aircraft that was discovered abandoned at Kwapau
airstrip, Middle Mazaruni in March 2005. The police seem to have closed
off their investigation in this case even though the owner of the plane
was identified as a Venezuelan.
The man according to reports had acknowledged that the plane was his,
but he said that he did not know about its flight to Guyana. He however
has not approached local authorities to date to repossess the plane.
At present the aircraft is under the control of the Guyana Defence
Force (GDF) and is parked at the Army's hangar at Timehri.
No comments:
Post a Comment