A twin-engine Cessna aircraft which was discovered at the Yupukari Airstrip, Region 9 on Wednesday was sporting a bogus registration number.
Speaking at a post-cabinet media briefing yesterday, Minister of State, Joe Harmon said that the United States registration number N767Z has been revealed to be bogus since another aircraft with that number is currently being operated in the US.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said that it received information that an illegal aircraft was found at the Yupukari Airstrip, Region 9, Upper Takatu/Upper Essequibo.
During Wednesday, the statement said a joint patrol from the GDF and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was sent to the area and the discovery was made around 9:50hrs.
According to Harmon the regularity of patrols in the area means that the aircraft could not have been there for very long as regular patrols have led to the development of a co-operative relationship between the joint services and residents.
Though no drugs were found in the aircraft Harmon noted that in the past “airstrips not far from there were used for aircraft connected to the illicit drug trade.”
As such Investigators from the GDF, GPF and Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit are in the area conducting investigations including checks to ascertain whether the aircraft had cargo which was removed.
