Four people were arrested and two aircraft were seized after making an unauthorized emergency landing at a private airfield in southern Morelos. Authorities also found 72,000 US dollars and 2,515 pesos in cash, the origin of which has not been proven.
According to Miguel Ángel Urrutia Lozano, head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, the discovery was the result of a surveillance operation carried out by the National Guard in the Tequesquitengo Lake area, between the municipalities of Puente de Ixtla and Jojutla.
“The second piece of information is that yesterday, two aircraft, carrying two people each, experienced a malfunction. One of them made an emergency landing. It should be remembered that in Tequesquitengo we have the Holy Week operation, which is still ongoing and will run until next Sunday. Members of the National Guard, in charge of those facilities, acted quickly, and four people were arrested,” the official explained.
The aircraft did not have a flight plan or documentation proving their legal possession. During the inspection, no drugs or weapons were found, but a significant amount of cash was found.
“One of the aircraft suffered a malfunction and almost lost part of its landing gear. The detainees were seized $72,000 in cash. They were handed over—early this morning—to the Attorney General’s Office,” he indicated.
Although there was speculation about the nationality of the detainees, the secretary clarified: “Were they Colombian? I can’t say for sure, because it was ultimately an action by the National Guard. But it was a domestic flight. No cocaine or other drugs were found, but a considerable amount of money in dollars was found. In national currency, it was very little.”
Regarding the legality of the landing, Urrutia Lozano was emphatic: “Were they allowed to land? No, they weren’t. They landed on their own; there were two aircraft.”
The individuals were handed over to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) will determine whether there are grounds for federal crimes. The investigation remains ongoing.
Source: proceso
