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Fallen
Helicopter Carrying 347 Kg of Cocaine For
Mexican Cartel
On Monday the news of an aerial accident of
the helicopter that disappeared from the air
over the Cerro de la Muerte, that killed
both the pilot and his passenger, revealed
that the flight of the helicopter was more
than just an overfly of the area for an
aerial photography contract, as it had been
originally reported.
The helicopter was also carrying 347 kilos
of cocaine and is presumed to be transported
on behalf of the Sinaloa Mexican drug
cartel, according to the ministra de
Seguridad Publica, Janina del Vecchio.
The accident killed the pilot, Edgar
Arguedas Alfaro, and his presumed Mexican
passenger, who had been said had contracted
the helicopter to photographs of the Cerro
for his American bosses.
As of this morning, it has been difficult to
remove the bodies and the drugs from the
scene of the accident and display of police
presence has overtaken the entire area,
protecting the scene of the accident to
determine the cause, as well as safekeeping
the drugs. Weather and terrain are making
the extraction difficult.
Seguridad officals confirmed that the
helicopter took off from Drake Bay in the
southern zone and was headed for Turrialba,
the destination where the drugs were to have
been stored.
The director of the Organismo de
Investigacion Judicial (OIJ), Jorge Rojas,
confirmed that the pilot had rented a
property known as Pochotel, in Turrialba.
Rojas said that the hotel was searched
yesterday, but would not comment on the
results of the search.
Ricardo Arias, subdirector de la Dirección
General de Aviación Civil, confirmed that
the pilot kept to his flight plan before
falling out of the sky.
Del Vecchio added that the Sinaloa Cartel is
well known to Costa Rican officials for
their presence and operations in the
country, and the reason for assuming that
the drugs belonged to the group.
Judicial officials are having difficulties
identifying the passenger as he is presumed
to use at least six different identities, of
which include José Ortiz and Herman Trejos.
The helicopter, according to Aviación Civil
registry is owned by Grecem MRJ SA, of which
Brian Frazee, general manager of the White
House hotel and casino, in Escazú, is one of
the named officers.
Judicial officials said they are
investigating the sale of the helicopter by
the Escazú hotel, allegedly to Mexicans. The
hotel management confirmed that the
helicopter had been sold.
"The helicopter had been ours. It was sold
about one and half months ago", Frazee told
Telenoticias. |
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