Blz: Drug plane arrests

The recent crash landing and abandonment of a suspected drug plane has resulted in the arrest of three men, two of whom have pleaded guilty. The plane, a twin engine Cessna, was discovered by police on Friday on a side road near mile thirty-eight on the Northern Highway. Although no drugs, pilot, or passengers were found, police did discover three bags containing night vision equipment and radios. In close proximity were two men, thirty-seven year old Wilhelm Braun of Blue Creek and forty-five year old Jorge Enrique of Orange Walk Town. The pair pleaded guilty in Orange Walk Magistrate's Court to the crime of possession of unlicensed radio transmitters. Each was fined five thousand dollars, which was promptly paid. A third suspect, the owner of a truck found in the area, was also arrested. He is fifty-nine year old Benigno Loria of Corozal Town and is expected to face charges of abetting and conspiracy to use an airstrip without permission of civil aviation authorities. The aircraft suffered damages to a wingtip on landing and, if unclaimed, will revert to the Government of Belize, which is rapidly acquiring a large fleet of slightly used drug planes.