Voice of America News


April 12, 2006


SECTION: VOA ENGLISH SERVICE

LENGTH: 93 words

HEADLINE: Mexican Military Finds 5.5 Tons of Cocaine on Plane From Venezuela

BODY:


Mexican soldiers have seized 5.5 tons of cocaine found on board a commercial plane that arrived from Caracas, Venezuela.

Officials said Tuesday that the drug was confiscated Monday after the plane landed in Ciudad del Carmen, east of Mexico City. They say the cocaine was hidden in 128 black suitcases and had a street value of $100 million.

Investigators also say the plane, which belonged to a U.S. company, was not carrying passengers and that the pilot managed to escape. The co-pilot was arrested, along with two Mexicans who had arrived in another aircraft.