According to a report by Air Security International, a DC-9 then registered to a U.S. company was detained April 10 after landing at Ciudad del Carmen International Airport in Mexico. Authorities found approximately 5.5 tons of cocaine packed in 128 suitcases on the DC-9, registration number N900SA (deregistered on April 13). The Air Security report noted that the pilots “attempted to prevent military officers from searching the aircraft, alleging that it had an oil leak that required immediate assistance.” Mexican authorities arrested the Colombian pilot, but the Venezuelan first officer escaped.

The pilots of a Falcon, Mexican registration XB-IYK, were also arrested, according to Air Security, after they flew to Ciudad del Carmen and tried to get permission for the DC-9 to return to Benito Juarez International Airport.

Air Security reported that the U.S. operator of the DC-9 was a company called Fly. The former owner of the DC-9, Royal Sons of Clearwater, Fla., sold the airplane in March, a company spokesman told AIN.