Venezuelan-registered plane seized in Cúcuta: who was on board?
A Cessna S-550 Citation S/II aircraft, with a Venezuelan flag, has been held since 6:58 a.m. this Friday, September 20, at the Camilo Daza airport in Cúcuta.
The Weather established for the first time that the aircraft was located by radar in Maiquetía (Venezuela) and presents a log of flights with similar routes on the border with Colombia for at least a week with landings at military bases such as La Orchila (Venezuelan Island).
The crew of a Venezuelan plane detained in Cúcuta
Private file
Although The case is being handled under absolute confidentiality, airport authorities confirmed to The Weather the event and assured that the flight and other movements of the aircraft are being investigated.
Preliminary information indicates that two of the passengers are senior military personnel and that they were carrying weapons. In addition, they confused the route of the flight, which was domestic, so they did not have their passports.
This newspaper investigated and established that the registration is YV-3226 and that the same aircraft was reported in 2017 transporting Chavista deputies from Guayana Esequiba to the United States.
This is Hermann Escarrá.
The case comes to light after the United States government reactivated sanctions against the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro, following the alleged electoral fraud that took place on July 28. The sanctions included the confiscation of a JET in the Dominican Republic that was even used by Alex Saab, who is being investigated for a mega money laundering operation linked to the regime.
Private file
Stop in Cuba
AFP
The past On August 12, the same aircraft was seen in Cuba (a frequent stop for dictator Maduro) after making several trips to the Orinoco Basin.
Unknown if it had the same crew that is being held in Cúcuta along with three passengers.
Aeronautical authorities and the Police are interviewing the pilot to ask him why if the final destination was San Antonio del Táchira, he ended up in Cúcuta.
“Is It is impossible that it was a mistake and they are investigating whether it was an emergency, as well as the cargo and the identity of the passengers.“, said a source familiar with the matter.
After the scoop of The Weather Government sources said they are looking into the matter in order to establish contact with their peers and clarify what is behind the case.
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