Irish jet impounded in Belgium carrying drugs

[mutt]

TV news reports are stating that an executive jet owned by Jim Mansfield and operated by Kieron OÇonnor was impounded yesterday when the passengers were found boarding the aircraft with 50 kgs of cocaine. The crew and 3 passengers were arrested.

Interesting to see how they can blame the cockpit crew in a situation like this.

Mutt

[weneedpilots]

Interesting that you assume they are not involved. Why do you assume thay are not involved ? Because they're aircrew ?

Good job that the Belgian police didn't share that opinion. They may well be innocent, but they may also be guilty. I am sure the due legal process will discover the truth.

[precession]

Irish Led operation apparently, a bit more information on this website:

http://flyinginireland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1974


seems the norrie gurriers have moved up from rexxies to lears...........:uhoh:

[FLEXJET]

Aircraft owned by Mansfield is N606AT, a 1993-Citation VI.
http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/jimmansfieldplanex.jpg

[flyboyike]

The pipes, the pipes are caaalling.....

[haamdhanimaid]

Jet 'owned' by guy who leased Mansfield's was allegedly in maintenance at the time, hence the hiring of Mansfield's aircraft...

Mansfield has denied all knowledge and association of the operation.

Interesting that the 'smuggler' just walked on board with the heroin in his bags, not even hidden - just goes to show what people think of GA security in Europe.

He was caught not because of security procedures, but as the result of a long intelligence operation.

Begs the question - just how many flights like this have been done in the past?

[juice]

What do you make of this story? As reported in the Irish Times today:
....
"Three Irish men were among five people under arrest in Holland, Belgium and Ireland last night after an Irish-registered private jet was impounded in Belgium as it was about to leave for Ireland with heroin worth €10 million on board.
...
Garda sources in Dublin described the smuggling plan as "incredible" and "unprecedented". The drugs were destined for west Dublin dealers.
Detectives believe an Irish man involved in the leasing of planes at Weston airport, Leixlip, Co Kildare, had arranged for the plane to be used to transport the drugs.
The plane left Weston on Tuesday morning and flew to Wevelgem airport in southern Belgium. It was manned by two Irish pilots and was due to collect a passenger at Wevelgem and fly him back to Weston late on Tuesday.
However, as this man boarded the plane with his luggage the Belgian authorities moved in. A search revealed 50kgs of heroin, worth €10 million, packed into his cases.
The man, a 32-year-old from the Leeds-Bradford area, was arrested along with the two Irish pilots. The plane was also impounded. One of the pilots is a 38-year-old Dublin man who was caught in Britain in the late 1990s with a large quantity of cannabis.
....
In Ireland a 36-year-old Irish man was arrested on Tuesday evening at Weston where he works. He is a qualified pilot and has an address in Kilmessan, Co Meath.
Garda sources said he is closely associated with Irish drugs wholesalers. He is a former international boxer. He previously worked as a nightclub bouncer and is now a director of a plane hire company based at Weston which was using Jim Mansfield's plane at the time the drugs were found.
...
The National Flight Centre, which is based at Weston, released a statement last night confirming it operates the plane impounded in Belgium.
The statement said the crew is employed by the National Flight Centre, "which is owned by Captain Kieran O'Connor". The plane involved is a Cessna Citation VI executive jet owned by Mr Mansfield through Lonborough Aviation. Mr Mansfield also owns Weston airport.
It was being used on Tuesday by another plane-hire company because its own aircraft was unserviceable. The 36-year-old man arrested in Dublin is a director of this firm.
A spokesman said Mr Mansfield was "shocked" by the developments. He said Mr Mansfield was not aware his plane had been taken out of the country."
...

[Pope Marmalade th 2]

I hear that Weston, will only accept "LINE" traffic at present. No white powder for the fire extinguisher.

[mutt]

Interesting that you assume they are not involved

Yes I do presume that they arent involved! I wonder how many corporate pilots ask their passengers to open their luggage prior to boarding the aircraft? I wonder who is responsible for their legal fees?

Mutt

[weneedpilots]

Yes I do presume that they arent involved! I wonder how many corporate pilots ask their passengers to open their luggage prior to boarding the aircraft? I wonder who is responsible for their legal fees?
Mutt


I wonder how many pilots have been caught / arrested / imprisoned over the years for smuggling drugs. I know of 3 cases off the top of my head. It wasn't that long ago that an F/O was caught "chasing the dragon" in the rear galley.

[His dudeness]

How many airline pilots have been arrested because their passengers were smuggling drugs or whatnot ?
How many taxidrivers have been arrested because their clients have possesed drugs?
I never looked into the bags of my clients - as a potential terrorist (I´m searched EVERYTIME I pass security) I might not be the correct person to do that job.
---
Quote:
Interesting that you assume they are not involved. Why do you assume thay are not involved ? Because they're aircrew ?

Good job that the Belgian police didn't share that opinion. They may well be innocent, but they may also be guilty. I am sure the due legal process will discover the truth.
---

They MAY be guilty, but as far as one can tell from the news they just did what a lot of us do every day: get to the airport, ready your aircraft and fly WHATEVER your boss tells you to fly - may it be Irishmen or, e.g. Russians - most of us don´t care who is riding in the back.

And BTW: Belgian police ? Does Marc Dutroux ring a bell ? - gosh.....

[Alpine Flyer]

I wonder how many pilots have been caught / arrested / imprisoned over the years for smuggling drugs.
A guy from our airline was arrested this year for allegedly smuggling drugs within Europe on a rather commercial scale. (He allegedly did not use company aircraft but motor vehicles and a GA aircraft.)

[flight scchool]

that could have been me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is there anyone else outy there that can say that. arrested cause your told to go pick a guy up. i feel for those guys.i really do and anyone else involved in coorporate flying must do too?

[flash8]

Quoting the Irish Times...

One of the pilots is a 38-year-old Dublin man who was caught in Britain in the late 1990s with a large quantity of cannabis.
....
In Ireland a 36-year-old Irish man was arrested on Tuesday evening at Weston where he works. He is a qualified pilot and has an address in Kilmessan, Co Meath.
Garda sources said he is closely associated with Irish drugs wholesalers. He is a former international boxer. He previously worked as a nightclub bouncer and is now a director of a plane hire company based at Weston which was using Jim Mansfield's plane at the time the drugs were found.
...
Think that answers some questions. Although I wouldn't say "Guilt by association" your average exec-jet pilot doesn't usually get caught with large quantities of cannabis on him!

[Grum]

I landed there (EBKT) just after it all happened. The fuel guy was telling us that they had all been handcuffed and BLINDFOLDED! before being carted off. Scary stuff. Who knows what your pax are carrying. :eek:

[Chippie Chappie]

My we are jumping to a few conclusions here. If guilty of smuggling drugs, then the pilots deserve what's coming to them but let's for a moment take on board the fact that newspapers are there to sell, and carry stories accordingly.

One of the pilots is a 38-year-old Dublin man who was caught in Britain in the late 1990s with a large quantity of cannabis.

How large is large? Was it his? Was he prosecuted/convicted? (If so, how did he get a licence/medical?)

I seem to remember the captain of the Air Transit A330 that made a dead-stick night landing into the Azores had previously been associated with drug smuggling from South America. He paid for it and learnt his lesson and became a hero.

We are in a different game to the airlines. We have less security and more contact with the passengers so there will always be more risk of "guilt by association" if a customer is a naughty boy/girl. Support your profession rather than assist in tarnishing it unless you have very good reason to do otherwise.

Grab some facts rather than ASSUME - we all know what that makes of ...-U- and -ME-......

Cheers,
Chips

[EI-CGO]

Lets face it tho, how many times at DUB do you see an exec jet land, met by a limo or a bus, pax get in and there is only the minimum of checks at the gates before they zoom off.

Wouldnt surprise me if this hasnt beeen going on for years.

[FLEXJET]

http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/print.php?content=letters/200604191121

800 kgs out of the 2000kgs carried by the 727 were recovered.

Here only in french, sorry :
http://www.geopolitique.com/ce-dossier-de-la-coke-saoudienne-fait-trembler-riyad...-et-paris-019.html

[Chippie Chappie]

Excellent EI-CGO! :D Exactly what I was saying:rolleyes:

Thanks for slinging some mud that's bound to stick somewhere despite the fact that you present no evidence what-so-ever. If you do have evidence, take it to the authorities. Shame you don't value your(?) and my profession more highly.

Chips

[weneedpilots]

or maybe he should close his eyes and pretent it doesn't happen ?

It does happen, and if the industry cannot police itself, then expect things to get worse. Admitting that there is a problem in the 1st place is a start.

Why is Chirpy so defensive ? - Thou protesteth too much

[flight scchool]

ok guys, am not gonna say much here and i dont post that much unless i feel something needs to be said. i personally know very well that these guys are completely innocent, the reason is is that i know them well and highly respect both of them (as do all the people that know them), they were just caught up in a crap situation that could very easily have been any of us that have done coorporate flying.dont wanna say more as it s all going through legal process, So if you can thrust me on what i ve just said how about instead of trying to make them out to be drug smugglers and further aid in destroying their careers, why dont we get behind them and give them just a little support, just try to imagine that its you thats been locked up and what would go through your head, career, family, kids, all the hard work and money you ve put into this game simply cause you wanted to fly, knowing that all you ve done is your job. so how about some messages of support so that when they finally get home and all this nonsense is over, they can at least read this forum and see that people are behind them for just doing their job.

[Freelance_uk]

Well Said, need to see more of that on these forums :)

[weneedpilots]

I totally agree, however in order for situations like this being avoided, we all need to make sure that our industry is not used as the donkey for drug smugglers.

It's OK to blame everyone else, but it doesn't actually solve the problem. To the outside world, it just gives the impression that corperate charter travel is badly regulated, with a lack of control. Hardly good PR.

Prevention is better than cure.

I still think that the police would be remiss if the pressumed that the aircrew were innocent (or guilty). As I said before, the due legal process should prove either way. What they need is a decent lawyer, who will not only prove their innocence, but also claim compensation for them.

If they are innocent, then I feel for them, it is a sh$tty situation to be in, but it is an occupational hazard because everything is too loose at the moment.

[Helipolarbear]

Great news! The boys should be back in the ol' sod tonight. FREEDOM!!!! Coming home by schedule me thinx! Congrats to all who helped!!

[corsair]

I know one of the pilots concerned. I knew damm well he wasn't involved. I can't wait to hear his story unless he's too traumatised. Must have been a scary couple of weeks.
What I find scary is that it could so easily have been me.

[Cessna172ppl]

I read in last weeks newspaper that both pilots of Mansfields jet were charged before the Belgian courts in relation to the 10 million drug seizure and were bailed at 150,000 each. Some punter from Ireland arrived with 300,000 to bail them out !!
One of the pilots was apparantly charged in 1999 in UK with importing a 40ft truck of drugs and got off after two court trials !!! Didn't know drugs were in truck,,,unlucky once...but what about unlucky twice !!!

There are rumours also about the Chef Simon in Weston having served time in Germany...it get better

[Chippie Chappie]

weneedpilots

or maybe he should close his eyes and pretent it doesn't happen ?

WTF?????

Hmmm, I protest to much do I? Why on earth should I protest about a bunch of rumour mongers who cast blanket dispersion on my profession without substantiating any of it? I agree that this sort of thing needs to be stamped out but your methods will drag the profession down and not necessarily deliver the outcome you want.

Cessna PPL172:

“I read in last weeks newspaper”
“One of the pilots was apparantly charged”
“There are rumours also about the Chef Simon”

Are you a slow learner or something?

[SnowPilot]

Great news! The boys should be back in the ol' sod tonight. FREEDOM!!!! Coming home by schedule me thinx! Congrats to all who helped!!

Scheduling probably has them flying the next day. :)

[pumper_bob]

For those of you wondering whats happened to the plane!

Millonaire businessman Jim Mansfield is to get his private jet back, a Belgian judge has decided.
It follows the decision of a court in Ghent to release the private jet's two pilots on bail of €150,000 each.
The two pilots were released without publicity when a local appeal court judge said he was satisfied they had no knowledge of the €10m worth of heroin being transported by the courier they flew from Dublin to Belgium.
Both men - described by Mansfield as "the soundest fellas" - have worked as Mansfield's personal pilots for more than 10 years, and he has protested their innocence since their arrests.
If they fail to appear if and when a trial goes ahead they will forfeit the money.
They were released without publicity on October 10 and both are now back in Ireland.
The jet, worth millions, has been in the custody of the Belgian authorities until now.
Their passenger, a British national from the Leeds-Bradford area who was arrested with 49kg of heroin, is still in custody, as is an Irishman in Dublin and a Scotsman in the Netherlands.
John Kinsella, from Meath, is in custody in Dublin awaiting trial for conspiracy to import controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
A judge said he was satisfied that Kinsella, who has bank accounts and property abroad, would be a flight risk if granted bail.

Mansfield had no knowledge of drug smuggling operation

Prosecuting authorities in Kortrijk decided yesterday that they were satisfied that Mansfield - who owns Weston airfield, the airport from where the two pilots flew out, and who is reported to be personally worth some €400 million - had no knowledge of and nothing to do with the drug smuggling operation.
The plane is a Cessna Citation VI jet and is Mansfield's personal jet.
He was unaware that it had been leased out without his permission.
Gardai say the route from Belgium to Weston - which has a nominal Customs and Excise presence - has almost certainly been used before by others.
Prosecutor Tom Jannssens said they expect the pilots to attend the eventual trial. "But if this happens before Christmas we will be lucky, it will take some time," he said.

[Sir Hardly Worthit]

Stop and listen to yourselves, guys. Chips is right, give the guys support and stop undermining your own industry.

WeNeedPilots::=

The premise is innocent 'til proven guilty, not the other way around. You do realise that whatever you put out in this world is what you will get back so I'd be careful if I were you. If you are aware of misdemeanors in the GA world then let the authorities know. If not, stop bitching. Operations like this are the result of much intelligence work by the police and the capture of individuals by customs at any port of entry is the result of that work, not the chance discovery by a vigilant customs officer.

Cesna 172Pilot::mad:

Read first, absorb the information and then open your mouth. That way you won't get both feet in at the same time.

I don't know the guys involved but I wish them all the best. It's hard enough proving your own innocence in an increasingly suspicious world without having your "colleagues" tarnish your reputation.

Be safe out there

HW

[flight scchool]

well said sir hardly