Thread: Large amounts of cash found in crash of Mexican plane

Large amounts of cash found in crash of Mexican plane

By The Associated Press
Posted: 05/15/2012 07:24:34 AM PDT
May 15, 2012 3:9 PM GMTUpdated: 05/15/2012 08:09:28 AM PDT

QUITO, Ecuador - A Mexican-registered plane carrying two men, a large amount of cash and a dog crashed in Ecuador, and officials said Monday that the aircraft had not filed a flight plan and they suspected the money might be related to drug trafficking.

The plane crashed into a hillside Sunday night near the city of Perdernales on Ecuador's central coast.

Interior Minister Jose Serrano said in a TV interview Monday that "a great amount" of money was on board and that the dead pilot and copilot were Mexican. He did not say how much money was found or in what currency. He said authorities had cordoned off the area.

"We presume the money was for laundering to pay for drugs that it was going to pick up," he said.

Ecuador is a transit country for traffickers of cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia. Mexican drug trafficking organizations smuggle the cocaine northward to the United States and send cash back.

No flight plan had been filed for the plane, Ecuador's civil aviation authority said in a statement. It said it has asked Mexico's government "to confirm the plane's origin and occupants."

Large amounts of cash found in crash of Mexican plane - Press-Telegram

In the immortal words of Gomer Pyle: "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!" (LOL!)

PS; Do they REALLY expect Mexico will provide ownership, origin and occupant info? This from a nation that can't find it's butt with both hands??? (ANOTHER LOL!)

Tuesday, 15 May 2012 08:17

Mexican 'Narco-Plane' Crashes in Ecuador

Written by Edward Fox

A suspect plane carrying over $4 million in cash crashed in northwest Ecuador, killing two Mexican citizens on board, in an indication of the importance of the country as a drug transhipment point and money laundering location.


The Mexican-registered light aircraft crashed on Sunday into the so-called "Hill of Death," 26 kilometers southeast of Pedernales in the Pacific province of Manabi. It did not have permission from Ecuador's aviation authority, which stated that the plane was flying too low in order to avoid being detected by radar, reported AFP.

Authorities believe that the two deceased Mexicans were either planning to launder the money, estimated to be $4-5 million in US currency, or use it to purchase narcotics.

Ecuador's Interior Minister Jose Serrano declared that while transnational criminal organizations are not necessarily located in Ecuador, they do operate through the country, which is an important transit point for drugs, reported El Universo.

According to El Comercio, this is the fourth Mexican suspected narco-plane to be found in Ecuador since 2003. The most recent was discovered in September with 1.5 tons of narcotics on board, reportedly belonging to a Mexican-headed criminal group.

InSight Crime Analysis

If the crashed plane was indeed carrying money to pay for a drug shipment, this would be further evidence of Mexican groups' presence in Ecuador. The country's drug trade is dominated by Mexican and Colombian gangs, with the Colombian Rastrojos reportedly the most powerful criminal organization in Ecuador, sending drug shipments from Pacific ports up to Mexico. The Mexican Sinaloa Cartel are also thought to be present.

Mexican criminal organizations are increasing their control further down the drug supply chain, coming to South America themselves to carry out drug deals and organize the shipments north. Though not a major drug-producing nation, Ecuador is a key transit point for narcotics. According to the UN, the Andean country seized the second highest quantity of cocaine in South America in 2009.

The money laundering thesis is also plausible -- Ecuador is a good location for laundering illicit funds, as it uses the US dollar as its currency.

Last month, Ecuador's defense minister unveiled a plan to train some 4,000 military personnel to combat organized crime, days after President Rafael Correa declared that the military was key to a successful fight against criminal gangs. This followed concerns within the military command, expressed in a leaked document, that the country could soon be overrun by organized crime.

Mexican 'Narco-Plane' Crashes in Ecuador

Originally Posted by OIFIIIMP

. . . Do they REALLY expect Mexico will provide ownership, origin and occupant info?

. . . The two men were identified as 22-year-old Santiago Alfonso Lopez Monzon and 36-year-old Cruz Alfredo Solis Lopez.
No flight plan had been filed for the plane . . .

The Associated Press: Ecuador says $1.3 million found on crashed plane

Just another illustration as to why we have to advocate for meaningful penalties for drug USERS and DEALERS. Whatever that penalty has to be to make the point that illegal drugs means illegal. If we do NOT it is only a matter of time that cartels overrun and run this country. Eliminate USERS, what percentage of illegal aliens are automatically e.iminated?