Crashed plane packed with cocaine was bound for Australia, police say

Police issue a minute airplane that crashed shortly after obtain-off in Papua Smooth Guinea had been overloaded with cocaine destined for the Australian market.

Officers issue the “greed” of the remedy gang performed a ingredient in their downfall.

It’s believed the Cessna had been carrying greater than 500kg (1,100lb) of cocaine worth A$80m ($57m; £44m) when it crashed on Monday.

5 males, all allegedly contributors of a Melbourne-based entirely crime syndicate, have been arrested.

In a observation, Australian police acknowledged the crowd had been below surveillance for two years. The sunshine airplane had taken off from Mareeba in North Queensland on Sunday and flew at a low altitude to steer certain of radar detection sooner than landing at a a ways-off airfield at Papa Lea Lea, north of Port Moresby.

Police issue it used to be then loaded up with remedy for the return flight to Australia.

“The AFP (Australian Federal Police) alleges greed performed a vital allotment within the syndicate’s activities and would possibly per chance per chance well also now not rule out that the weight of the cocaine had an impression on the airplane’s capacity to acquire off,” police acknowledged in a observation.

The spoil of the airplane used to be chanced on deserted and empty a short distance from the airfield. The remedy, in 28 baggage, alongside side an unspecified quantity of Australian forex had been later retrieved by Australian and Papua Smooth Guinea police.

The pilot – an Australian – handed himself in to the Australian Consulate in Papua Smooth Guinea on Tuesday, police added. He used to be arrested and has been charged with an immigration offence.

Police acknowledged the 5 males had links to Italian organised crime and had been arrested in Queensland and Victoria shortly after the airplane took off for Papua Smooth Guinea. If convicted, they face life imprisonment.

“These arrests point to no subject how sophisticated or opportunistic organised crime’s makes an strive are, or the recommendations they use, legislation enforcement is maintaining tempo and inflicting most harm to these criminal ventures,” AFP Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney acknowledged.