PRESIDENT David Granger has mandated that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) be established to investigate, examine, advise and report on the circumstances under which a plane, which was discovered near the village of Yupukari, Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu on September 13 entered into the country.A release from the Ministry of the Presidency revealed that Brigadier Edward Collins has been identified and appointed as Commissioner of the CoI. Brigadier Collins will be sworn in today before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

The release noted that a preliminary report will be submitted on October 17 and the final report will be submitted on November 16. The police and army have already spoken with nearby residents who reported ‘suspicious activity,’ such as the presence of motorcycles frequenting at midnight in the area. Reports had also indicated that the aircraft might be linked to drug trafficking.

They also reported that the abandoned aircraft had previously been sighted circling the area on numerous occasions in the past. The plane, bearing registration number N767Z, was first brought to the attention of officials on September 13 by a resident of the area.

The following day, a joint army and police team, inclusive of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), were dispatched to the location to conduct a full investigation and it was later revealed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon that the United States registration was bogus, since there is another active aircraft in the U.S. with the same registration number.

During a search of the aircraft, several pieces of communication equipment were discovered. These have been secured to be further examined for any potential leads.