The Journal du Mali is reporting right now more news about the Boeing 727 that was crashed in Northern Mali after downloading up to 10 tonnes of cocaine and that would have come from Venezuela. As we know, United Nations and Interpol are investigating.
This is what they seem to know now:
- the plane was coming from Venezuela (they don't say what further evidence they have, see below)
- the drug was taken away in 5 4x4 vehicles
- the vehicles may have taken the route to Niger
- the plane was registered in Guinea-Bisseau
- since last November Guinea-Bisseau had requested several West African countries to prohibit the entry of said plane as it was not respecting the flying routes
- the plane had no more rights to fly from 31 October
- the crew had decided to falsify papers as it could no longer fly like that and it had produced papers coming from Saudi Arabia
- the transponder shows the flight started in Panama, went on to Colombia, the trace disappeared for several days (???????), then the plane popped up in Cape Verde, continued to Guinea-Bisseau and ended in Mali.
- Several people from neighbouring countries seem to be involved in this issue and "heads may roll very soon"
- the men trying to dismantle the plane were poor inhabitants of the region (something that reminded me of a scene in Lord of War)