The Air Force accompanied the entire journey by plane "without communications and unidentified" until it landed in Ferreira do Alentejo. dealers fled.
The Air Force deployed two F16 fighter jets and a patrol plane to intercept the plane that, day before yesterday, dropped two bales of hashish in a field next to the A26, in Ferreira do Alentejo. The aircraft managed to take off again and fled, as well as the occupants of the vehicle that collected the drug. Presumed to have returned to Spain or Morocco, where would it come from.
“The Air Force, through the air defense and air policing system, yesterday afternoon an aircraft was detected approaching national airspace, uncommunicated and unidentified”, informed that branch of the Armed Forces yesterday, in a statement. The note details that the plane was “detected south of the Algarve and heading north” and that, "immediately", “a pair of F-16M” was activated. “Due to the fact that the unidentified aircraft was flying at a low speed and at a low altitude, a P-3C CUP+ plane was also committed”, adds.
The intruder was followed through the electronic systems of the P-3C CUP+ and the authorities on the ground were informed of the route and location of the plane, that “it would end up landing in a place close to Ferreira do Alentejo”.
As JN reported yesterday, the aircraft unloaded the bales of hashish next to the A26, where other traffickers waited in a vehicle to collect the drug, and took off again. The GNR mobilized means from Grândola, Beja, Ferreira do Alentejo and Setúbal to chase the car with the hashish, that went towards Grândola. feeling hounded, traffickers took to dirt roads, ending up abandoning the car and the drugs next to a lot, and run away on foot.
The case is being investigated by the Judiciary Police, which will determine the origin of the plane and the whereabouts of the fugitives.. No arrests yet.
straight without obstacles
The place chosen for the unloading was a long straight, with little vegetation and obstacles, on the connection between the A2-Grândola Sul junction and Malhada Velha.
North Africa route
The use of small planes in traffic has occasionally been detected on routes between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
