A Brazilian and a Colombian are to spend four years and six months in jail over the trafficking of cocaine and cannabis.
On July 10, Rodrigues Estiven of Colombia and co-pilot Mateus Vinicius Alberto, a Brazilian were transported from Mahdia to Georgetown after illegally landing a Cessna 172 at the Region 8 airstrip.
The police yesterday said that in relation to 10 large parcels of cocaine, eight of which were branded “King Coca 30”, the duo was jailed for four years and six months. They were sentenced to the same term in relation to trafficking in cannabis. The sentences are to run concurrently.
For operating a civilian aircraft without an airworthiness certificate both defendants were imprisoned for one year.
For interference with an aircraft both defendants were jailed for one year.
For operating an aircraft without insurance – both defendants were jailed for one year.
For false or misleading aircraft marking both defendants were jailed for one year.
These sentences will also run concurrently.
On the plane, the police also discovered two GPS’, a satellite phone, a radio set and two cellular phones.
The plane, white in colour with red and blue insignia, carried what appears to be US-registration N5470Z. It is suspected to be fake and according to reports from the hinterland township the pilot made an emergency landing after running out of fuel.
