THE illegal aircraft that was recently discovered camouflaged at an airstrip in Yupukari has since been repaired and flown to Lethem initially before being flown to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at 10:00h on Saturday, the GDF has reported.The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has said that aeronautical engineers of its Air Corps, after inspecting the aircraft, identified the problems which had rendered it unserviceable. The necessary spares were sourced and the repairs were effected, resulting in the aircraft becoming operable.

A GDF statement noted that the aircraft was flown by GDF pilots to Lethem on Friday, where it overnighted, allowing for army engineers to conduct further repairs and functional checks under more favourable conditions, so as to ensure the aircraft’s suitability to fly to Timehri.

“Consequently, the aircraft departed Lethem for CJIA (on Saturday) morning…and is currently secured at the GDF Air Corps Hangar, Air Station London, CJIA,” the GDF stated.

“Investigations are ongoing with regards to all aspects surrounding the discovery of the aircraft,” the army added.

The twin-engine Cessna was discovered mid last month in an area that is on the radar for the illicit drug trade. The craft bore a bogus United States (US) registration, and Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon had earlier stated that the registration number – N767Z – was actually that of another aircraft that is active in the United States.

Army Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Philips, had told the Guyana Chronicle that the aircraft was spotted by residents of Yupukari, and they alerted the GDF and the police; and according to Harmon, a joint patrol that was sent in found the aircraft partly hidden.

“It was off of the airstrip itself, and there seemed to have been some kind of a camouflage net that was thrown over it and it was partly in the bushes, so we get the sense that it would have been there a few days,” Harmon stated.

It was not the first time that authorities have stumbled on illegal aircraft in the hinterland. Back in March 2005, police had stumbled on a Cessna 206 aircraft with duplicate registration, said to be used in Venezuela. The Cessna, with black and grey stripes and an emblem suspected to be that of Venezuela on its tail, was first observed to be bearing the number YV0880P.

Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Gary Anthony Grandison, whose address was given as Lot 13, Guyhoc Gardens and 13 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara. One of the men for whom wanted bulletins had been issued later turned himself over to police, but no charges were laid in connection with the plane. The white, single engine aircraft had among its features a special drop door, as well as on-board fuel tanks to facilitate long-range flights, an indication that it may have been used in some illegal activity, including the trafficking in narcotics or persons, lawmen here had said.

Additionally, in October 2012, an Ecuadorian-registered 421 Cessna plane was seized at an illegal airstrip at Pirara, Region Nine. The plane had been repainted and its registration number changed when authorities here found it.