Stabroek News
March 14, 2001

Approximately one kilogramme of a substance suspected to be cocaine was yesterday found on a Guyana Airways 2000 flight, GY 722, during a pre-flight security inspection of the aircraft.

According to a release from Public Communications Consultants Ltd the substance was found hidden in the aircraft during the routine inspection which took place at 7:00 am, prior to the scheduled departure of the aircraft for New York at 9:30 am.

The release said that the Narcotics Division of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was called in and officers took possession of the substance. The police carried out a detailed inspection of the aircraft but no further discovery was made and the aircraft departed for New York at 10:15 am.

The release said the aircraft had arrived in Guyana on Sunday afternoon from New York. After routine customs clearance, cleaning and security inspection, it remained locked and under full security including a night guard from the GPF until it was opened for pre-flight cleaning and preparation at 6:45 am yesterday.

The police were tight-lipped on the incident stating that investigations are ongoing.

Last month cocaine was found on a GA 2000 plane and a cleaner was charged. During December 2000 a police sniffer dog had also found some cocaine on the plane. No one was charged in that incident.