At the time of their arrest, the pilots, who were also of Bolivian origin, were carrying backpacks with about 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine
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On Wednesday afternoon, the two Bolivian pilots of the narco plane that crashed in Salta were arrested, an episode that led to the seizure of 364 kilograms (802 pounds) of cocaine. In addition, investigators found more drugs buried on the property in the San Felipe area, the site where the Cessna crash occurred.
The suspects, who were apprehended at the Rosario de la Frontera bus terminal, are the same men who were traveling on board the aircraft and had managed to escape in two pickup trucks after the accident. At the time of their arrest, they were carrying backpacks with about 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine. In the coming hours, a hearing is expected to be held to formalize the charges.
The arrests were carried out by the Salta Police, after much of the operation was concentrated on a property located on the outskirts of Rosario de la Frontera.
La droga incautada.
During the day, the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Salta conducted intensive searches and inspections at the site, where the discovery of more narcotics hidden underground was confirmed. The bags of drugs were seized as part of the investigation seeking to determine the origin and destination of the plane loaded with cocaine.
Attorney General Eduardo Villalba confirmed that the total amount of seized drugs amounts to 364 kilograms (802 pounds) of cocaine. Meanwhile, with the recent capture of the two Bolivian pilots, the number of detainees in the case rose to four.
The case
According to the investigation, the plane, with Bolivian registration, attempted to land on a clandestine runway within an unfenced property, located before the entrance to Rosario de la Frontera, near provincial routes 3 and 31.
During the maneuver, the aircraft collided with a Volkswagen Gol Trend car, causing a fire that destroyed part of the vehicle and the plane. Despite the accident, experts found 136 kilograms (300 pounds) of cocaine distributed in plastic bags inside the plane.
La droga enterrada.
Subsequent forensic analysis established that the vehicle belonged to one of the detainees. However, when questioned, the suspect tried to distance himself from the incident, claiming that the car had been stolen minutes before the accident by four armed men. Despite that version, the evidence collected at the scene confirmed the connection between the vehicle and the plane.
During the inspection, investigators also seized GPS devices and a satellite antenna of Bolivian origin, items that will be incorporated into the case. Due to the condition of both the plane and the car, it was necessary to use heavy machinery to remove the remains after the impact.
The work at the site lasted several hours, with the participation of officers from the Salta Provincial Police, the Airport Security Police (PSA), and the National Gendarmerie, who conducted a thorough search throughout the area.
This operation made it possible to discover, buried in a section of the property, a new load of narcotics: more than 228 kilograms (503 pounds) of cocaine pressed into bricks marked with the "Prada" brand. With this discovery, the total amount of drugs seized in the investigation rose to 364 kilograms (802 pounds).
