1500 Kilos of cocaine, Venezuelan plane busted on Utila

by utilaeastwind | January 28, 2009 at 01:18 pm

10237 views | 87 Recommendations | 23 comments

January 28th 2009 UTILA. Local residents of the small Caribbean Island of Utila woke up to a surprise that to them, was not all that surprising. Over the last months it had been strongly rumored that Utila Airport was being used as a distribution hub in the cocaine transport system from South America.

Weekly, airplanes were heard landing in the late night hours at Utila's airport and when the people who were curious about these night flights went to investigate, they were met by masked gunmen advising them not to pass.

However, this time it was not only the narco-traffickers in the air. A large airplane could be heard through the night and it is thought to have been an American C-130 Hercules that had been tracking the Venezuelan registered airplane on its route to the island.

Islanders and tourists alike woke up to an incredible scene with Honduran Naval vessels in the harbour, helicopters in the air and soldiers spreading throughout the streets of Utila. The crime scene was heavily guarded but this reporter was able to access the runway where lines of battery operated incandescent light bulbs lined the sides of the runway guiding the Cessna Conquest to it's night landing. At the beach investigators were cataloguing the packages and loading them onto trucks and two speedboats were just offshore with one capsized in the surf. Scattered along the beach was an estimated 1500 Kilos of cocaine, fuel drums and pumps.

There are rumors that as many as seven people have been detained, but officially the police are stating that there is no one in custody.

UPDATE.... January 30 2009

The cocaine has now been burned at the same location that it was found. It is said that over 1700 kilos was torched under heavy security. To date there have been no arrests. The military has troops scattered about the town and the community hopes that an arrest is made soon.

It seems that one of the suspects was able to escape the massive dragnet by taking the morning ferry to La Ceiba. Witnesses saw a suspicious passenger jumping on the ferry. The suspect was cut up and soaking wet, but there was no police presence to question the suspect nor was there police waiting in La Ceiba.

This reporter also witnessed a very brief interrogation by investigators at Munchies, a popular local restaurant. Upon the police realizing my presence they dawned their balaclavas and forced me against the wall demanding my identification. Other press and witnesses were near by and I was quickly released. These suspects were allowed to leave without presenting any identification.

There is plenty of speculation as to who has been aiding in these flights but many residents think that no one will ever be arrested. On another note, the airplane had a Red Cross insignia on its tail wing on the day of the incident and it now revealed that underneath was a Venezuelan Flag. Updates will be posted…

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Paschen

flagged this story as Eyewitness Report

at 13:55 on January 29th, 2009

This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member utilaeastwind who was on the scene.

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Karenke4

at 15:29 on January 28th, 2009

Wow. I was in Roatan last summer and it is hard to imagine this kind of thing interrupting one of the peaceful sunny days. The Bay Islands are gems. I hope this doesn't spoil their image, or bring too much unwanted tourism either!

Amy Judd

at 15:42 on January 28th, 2009

Wow, exciting and scary at the same time.

Jennings David L

at 16:01 on January 28th, 2009

Good report.

Mazelcub

at 17:07 on January 28th, 2009

I thought it was the coolest thing to race my electric skooter down Utila´s runway and on out to the beach. Damn Venezuelans. What a waste. ;-)

Mazelcub has contributed a photo to this story.

brother rob

at 20:28 on January 28th, 2009

1500 kilos of cocaine seized means 1500 kilos of cocaine off of our streets!

bigguyoz

at 05:03 on January 29th, 2009

bigguyoz has contributed a photo to this story.

Jordan Yerman

at 06:47 on January 29th, 2009

Well done with this- keep us posted.

Livingston48

at 10:49 on January 29th, 2009

I was in Utila about 4 years ago in an official capacity with the US gov. Utila has always been reputed as having a low crime rate as compared to Roatan or the mainland. Diving is the big reason people come there. Reportably the cheapest place in the world to get certified. The tourist crowd seemed to be mostly European.

Livingston48 has contributed a photo to this story.

veerle en steven

at 10:59 on January 29th, 2009

veerle en steven has contributed a photo to this story.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 12:09 on January 29th, 2009

utilaeastwind, thank you for this story! I look forward to updates. Thanks!

tikun

at 14:59 on January 29th, 2009

Great work and be careful.

bex on utila (not verified)

at 11:19 on January 30th, 2009

Excellent report utila east wind and well done for the amazing pic's.

honduran princess (not verified)

at 19:28 on January 30th, 2009

as someone who is related to almost everyone that you run into there, it saddens me that this is going on and nothing is being done.....it is a beautiful place, with beautiful people...thanks for the great story and keep us updated....

Honduran citizen (not verified)

at 09:14 on June 1st, 2009

I live here in Honduras, in this sort of incidents have been happening more and more frequently. The sad thing about it is that EVERYONE knows these planes come from Venezuela, and EVERYONE knows it's our freaking president Manuel Zelaya who permits this to go on, because that is the truth behind signing "El Alba" with Hugo Chavez. All the people who can do something about it are either to scared to do it, or don't really care, or are already paid off....

I wish the US troops could come here and clean this mess, and take with them Mel Zelaya!! Our country is being runned by a drug lord!!!! And NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!! It saddens me and makes me want to leave this country I love so much... God help us all because only God knows the people who can aren't doing anything.

tatum1 (not verified)

at 03:19 on July 19th, 2009

I'm related to just about everyone down there to

Howell's,Cooper's,Morgan's etc....

small world

Morganacq (not verified)

at 08:03 on February 1st, 2009

My home of Utila has become very corrupt from drugs to land in the Cablido. Such a beautiful island that needs major reform so that it may really thrive as it should for it is the jewel of the bay islands yet held back by too much crime that is ignored.

Steve from USA (not verified)

at 13:35 on February 21st, 2009

I was in Utila on vacation while this happened. The opinion of many of the local residents is that the police and local government are involved in the drug trade. While the drugs are reputed to have been burnt. I spoke to locals who speculate that only a small amount was actually destroyed. The rest is rumored to have been returned to the drug runners for a "handling: fee." I can't verify this but this is a widely held opinion by many local residents on this very small, closeknit island. There was a very noticable military presence on the island (helicopters flying very low over the main downtown area and solders at the main dock etc.). As for the culture of Utila, open drug use is prevelant with people smoking marijuana in the local bars. I was approached several times during my stay by individuals offering drugs for sale.The sanitary conditions are deplorable. Trash is everywhere and noone seems to care. You can smell sewage and garbage throughout the downtown area. My wife and I were very ill for ten out of the thirty days we were there. On a good note, the snorkelling was the best I've ever done. It's like being in the middle of a Jacque Cousteau filming. The coral and the tropical fish are beautiful and abundant. Travel at your own risk.

DMax (not verified)

at 22:10 on February 27th, 2009

Uh, really, Steve.... It's blatantly obvious that the cops are involved since dealers are sitting right in the center of town in daylight and selling drugs openly to tourists at night. I doubt they returned the drugs to the dealers, who were probably long gone. More likely they kept at least some of it to sell elsewhere or use since the cops don't make much. I was on the island, too, when this happened. What excitement. The helicopters rumbling overhead drew me out of the restaurant where I was having breakfast and everyone was watching the news on television. I have some photos of the narcs arriving at the dock by small boat and a camera crew as well. As for the island, I think you do it a great disservice. I don't find the sanitary conditions deplorable at all. The island is pretty clean and beautiful. I don't know if you've traveled much in the Caribbean, but open smoking of pot or being offered drugs to buy isn't unsual, especially on the tourist islands since many tourists do use drugs and many of the local folks are poor. Same thing in Belize and Mexico. It's really no big deal. I don't do drugs and if you tell people that, they just move on. I stayed right in town and wasn't sick once for the three plus weeks I was there, and didn't smell anything but sea air. Maybe you and your wife have some other health problems. I was diving a lot and it was great; my second visit to the island, and I've spent a lot of time on Roatan as well. As for travel at your own risk -- what's up with that?? What risk? Utila is about as safe as it gets other than staying in your house. I'm a young woman who traveled alone and went anywhere I wanted at any time and never encountered one threatening person, just friendly smiles.