One down in PNG today - C402C, VH-TSI
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The radar data appears to show an aborted take-off at Mareeba at 0852. Aborted from 70kts. Taxied back in to the hardstand and shut down for 18 minutes. Then taxied out again at 0913 for a 0919 takeoff. Could that be an indication of a left engine problem prior to departure from Mareeba, and then a recurrence when trying to depart Papa Lealea?
Maybe a blocked pitot?
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Take a look at https://cairnsnews.org/posts/
First published February, 2016
by Charles Miranda
ITALIAN police have carried out a series of raids to smash a Mafia-led operation to smuggle cocaine to Australia that police say godfathers have now divided into six zones for trafficking drugs, extortion and money laundering.
And such is the entrenchment of Mafia links to Australia now, authorities say the country is virtually a state of Italy and it would be impossible to ever wipe out.
Authorities have uncovered a treasure trove of intelligence related to the fearsome Calabrian-based ’ Ndrangheta mafia group and their operations in Australia including members’ infiltration of key areas to assist in their trade, including transport and politics.
The police operation last week with raids on more than a dozen homes in Calabria has seen 14 members of clans linked to ’Ndrangheta arrested and charged with “criminal association linked to international drugs tracking”, namely to Australia and Canada.
One of eight refused bail is a police officer tasked with protection of a port but instead was allegedly providing guidance on evading controls and security for drug shipments.
The case was the culmination of five years of work by the Central Operational Service of the Italian National Police, a specialist Italian police squad from Calabria and the district’s Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office.
Despite the success of arrests and uncovering intelligence on international operations through extensive listening devices, taps and surveillance, it may not assist the overall ’Ndrangheta crime fight in Australia.
Italian police have now classed the mafia in Australia as so entrenched, they believe it would be impossible to stamp out completely with Australian police only able to make busts where they can.
“Australia is not a target nation any more, it’s now like a state of Italy from a criminal perspective,” a senior Italian officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told News Corp Australia.
“They are entrenched in their activities and have been for a long time. They have not got an expansion strategy with your country any more, it’s not expansion, it’s consolidation. Australia, Canada, Belgium, United States, Germany are all countries where these crimes are being consolidated.”
’Ndrangheta work as “strictly a family-based enterprise, affiliation having to be through blood relation”.
According to evidence gathered by authorities, the group had designated six “locales” in Australia for Calabrian-linked mafia, not necessarily by state but by powerbase for extended family support and drug importation markets as well as large-scale construction contracts, paying of backhanders and racketeering. Each locale has its own mob boss that reports directly to Italy
Court files allege that Mr Vallelonga is responsible for “making the most important decisions, imparting orders or imposing sanctions on other subordinate associates”.
The files allege Mr Vallelonga was concerned about a rival who wanted to start his own cell on Mr Vallelonga’s turf with the approval of Calabrian bosses.
Photo: Detective-Superintendent Matt Warren said the mafia was robust and difficult to defeat. (ABC)
Mr Vallelonga was allegedly recorded in an Italian laundromat recounting a conversation with his competitor where he allegedly said: “As long as I’m alive, you don’t get a locale [local mafia cell] … and that’s that!”
To which his rival responded: “You can’t be the man any more … enough!”
It comes after the prosecutors sought to question Mr Vallelonga over his dealings in Calabria with a notorious mafia boss.
Mr Valleonga has always denied the allegations and in a statement sent to the ABC, Mr Vallelonga’s lawyer said any allegation the former mayor had ever been involved in criminal activity was “completely without any foundation”.
Outside of the political arena, Italian police have identified another Australian allegedly working in Calabria who is part of the influential Alvaro family.
Some members of the family were recently subjects of an international anti-mafia operation when authorities seized tonnes of cocaine and made dozens of arrests.
Confidential Italian and Australian police files state that the Alvaro clan has arms in Australia.
They are allegedly headed by Adelaide construction figure Paul Alvaro, 64, and a New South Wales man.
The pair are among figures around the country, including in Griffith, New South Wales.
A police assessment said the individuals operate as “an executive board of directors” for the Calabrian Mafia.
PNG police try to cover up $80m drug plane crash – hold fishermen at gunpoint to prevent assistance
Strong allegations:
What and who is behind the July 26 plane crash at Papa LeaLea? Are government agencies in PNG progressing from mere corruption into the drug trade and international crime?
Implicated is Deputy Police Commissioner Operations Donald Yamasombi who is said to have been at the crash site of aircraft, registration VHTSI at LeaLea, near Port Moresby before the AFP arrived but “said nothing” about the crash. Why not?
This accusation forms part of the unverified information I have been receiving from reliable sources, sources that I’m confident would not knowingly mislead.
The aircraft is suspected to have landed to load a cargo of cocaine on a flight, probably returning to Australia from where it had originally taken off. The question is: where did the cocaine come from and who was facilitating this?
As told to me:
“The flight left Mareeba [in Northern Queensland] and was tracked by the Aussies all the way to final impact. Shortly after take off the pilot turned off transponders [and other tracking instruments] mistakenly believing this would make him blind to radar tracking. (A lesson learnt from the MH70 fiasco!)
The strip at LeaLea is an old disused/abandoned strip but still marked on older and better navigation maps. The ever-helpful villagers had cleared it just enough for this flight. The plane landed, loaded the drugs and again, thanks to the villagers, was refuelled – the empty avgas
PNG police attend the crash of a Cessna 404 which flew from Mareeba FNQ airport, Far North Queensland. The Cessna 404 is the largest of the twin engine Cessna piston aircraft range. Built solidly it can carry 9 passengers and luggage or uplift 1 tonne of freight.
It has some 8 hours of endurance and because of its geared propellers it is one of the quietest twin engine aircraft ever built.
drums were on site, probably still are?
It should have had more than enough fuel on board for a return to Mareeba – if that’s where it was going. If it had a full fuel load when it left Mareeba, flying time would have been about 7hours, more than enough to get back.
The plane crashed on take off – it made it high enough to be picked up on radar but then went down. The most likely cause, according to assembled pilots, was a dramatic load shift, a single engine failure or simply overloaded? It appears there was a small fire in the port engine when she went down.
The police are reported to have attended the site early Monday – BULLSH*T! They were there when it happened. Four Boroko Fishing Club members were at Lealea packing up ready to leave when it happened. They were held at gunpoint by armed police for just on an hour and prevented from “rendering assistance” and/or leaving the boat ramp.
Still visible were the rest of the police doing their best to set fire to the plane wreckage and the cargo. In this they largely succeeded, particularly the cargo, of which we are told nothing remained intact. There was, and still is no sign of the pilot but blood stains on the plane’s steering wheel/instrument panel would indicate he must have got a nasty bump on the head on impact – maybe those helpful villagers are helping out again?!
Furthermore, I’ve been told that a dog unit policeman said that a chopper was sent on Monday morning to remove the wreckage but policemen were guarding the plane so they left.
Contrary to this report – I have also been told that the cargo (purportedly 500kgs of cocaine) was spirited away before the attempted destruction of the aircraft. (500 kg of Cocaine now in police custody-Editor)
That’s a lot of cocaine and worth millions on the streets of Australia. Cocaine is a high-priced recreation drug beloved of affluent drug users……..
from Susan Merrell, PNG, 30 July 2020
Further allegations from PNG Happenings Today:
How is (Deputy Police Commissioner Donald) Yamasombi’s brother in law, Hubert Namani of the PNG Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) mooted to be implicated in the saga of the plane crash at Papa Lealea along with Yamasombi’s nephew, a former PNGDF officer?
Asserted by my source, is that two of the Deputy Commissioner’s policemen went to Jacksons Airport NAC fuel depot with 15 jerry cans to collect fuel. You make the connections to the brother-in-law.
Also asserted is that 144 bags of cocaine (in 28 boxes) were taken from the site before the alarm was raised. S/he also asserts that 30 bags of cocaine were subsequently seized from the Sanctuary Hotel and that Donald Yamasombi’s ex military nephew had been seen there in the company of hotel owner, Jamie Pang. Make of that what you want too.
My source also claims that cocaine is available on the streets of Port Moresby at K500-600 ($A250 – $300) per teaspoon. At that price I posited that there couldn’t be many customers. He countered with their names. I was astonished and you’d be too, if I could tell you whom. However, there is evidence I need to gather before I am able to name them – but I know who you are alleged to be. Suffice it to say, the person who’s running this drug trade is purported to be a former policeman linked to William Kapris. (PNG high profile bank robber shot dead by police in 2013 after escaping prison)
The plot thickens.
I am now told that the police have 28 boxes containing 144 packs of cocaine at police headquarters and I’m also told that the reserve police officer working with customs is Jason Tan’s brother-in-law. Jason (Malaysian-born business leader) is suspected to have (previously) killed the Alice Springs (Northern Territory) owner of the plane that crashed – a Geoffrey Bull?
From ABC, 2019:
“A search of Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s register shows the Cessna’s registration holder is a PNG company called RAVENPOL NO. 69.
Company documents show its sole director and shareholder is Geoffrey Paul Bull (of Alice Springs), but several sources have said he was murdered in Port Moresby last year.
According to the aircraft register Ravenpol became the registration holder in January this year, after Mr Bull’s death….”
In an undercover operation ongoing prior to the Cessna flying to PNG, police have caught and charged a number of the Melbourne drug syndicate members who arrived in Atherton by air earlier in July.
https://spaces.hightail.com/space/e6w7U7dpgR
To be continued…….
Wow...
PNG cocaine bust: Italian police say Mafia so entrenched in Australian politics and business it is impossible to stamp out
PNG cocaine bust: Australia is a “state of Italy”
Italian police have now classed the mafia in Australia as so entrenched, they believe it would be impossible to stamp out completely with Australian police only able to make busts where they can.First published February, 2016
by Charles Miranda
ITALIAN police have carried out a series of raids to smash a Mafia-led operation to smuggle cocaine to Australia that police say godfathers have now divided into six zones for trafficking drugs, extortion and money laundering.
And such is the entrenchment of Mafia links to Australia now, authorities say the country is virtually a state of Italy and it would be impossible to ever wipe out.
Authorities have uncovered a treasure trove of intelligence related to the fearsome Calabrian-based ’ Ndrangheta mafia group and their operations in Australia including members’ infiltration of key areas to assist in their trade, including transport and politics.
The police operation last week with raids on more than a dozen homes in Calabria has seen 14 members of clans linked to ’Ndrangheta arrested and charged with “criminal association linked to international drugs tracking”, namely to Australia and Canada.
One of eight refused bail is a police officer tasked with protection of a port but instead was allegedly providing guidance on evading controls and security for drug shipments.
The case was the culmination of five years of work by the Central Operational Service of the Italian National Police, a specialist Italian police squad from Calabria and the district’s Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office.
Despite the success of arrests and uncovering intelligence on international operations through extensive listening devices, taps and surveillance, it may not assist the overall ’Ndrangheta crime fight in Australia.
Italian police have now classed the mafia in Australia as so entrenched, they believe it would be impossible to stamp out completely with Australian police only able to make busts where they can.
“Australia is not a target nation any more, it’s now like a state of Italy from a criminal perspective,” a senior Italian officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told News Corp Australia.
“They are entrenched in their activities and have been for a long time. They have not got an expansion strategy with your country any more, it’s not expansion, it’s consolidation. Australia, Canada, Belgium, United States, Germany are all countries where these crimes are being consolidated.”
’Ndrangheta work as “strictly a family-based enterprise, affiliation having to be through blood relation”.
According to evidence gathered by authorities, the group had designated six “locales” in Australia for Calabrian-linked mafia, not necessarily by state but by powerbase for extended family support and drug importation markets as well as large-scale construction contracts, paying of backhanders and racketeering. Each locale has its own mob boss that reports directly to Italy
Former WA mayor faces accusations he led mafia cell
Court documents from ongoing proceedings in Italy also show Italian prosecutors allege Tony Vallelonga, who is the former mayor of Stirling in Perth, is the local leader of a mafia cell in Perth.Court files allege that Mr Vallelonga is responsible for “making the most important decisions, imparting orders or imposing sanctions on other subordinate associates”.
The files allege Mr Vallelonga was concerned about a rival who wanted to start his own cell on Mr Vallelonga’s turf with the approval of Calabrian bosses.
Photo: Detective-Superintendent Matt Warren said the mafia was robust and difficult to defeat. (ABC)
Mr Vallelonga was allegedly recorded in an Italian laundromat recounting a conversation with his competitor where he allegedly said: “As long as I’m alive, you don’t get a locale [local mafia cell] … and that’s that!”
To which his rival responded: “You can’t be the man any more … enough!”
It comes after the prosecutors sought to question Mr Vallelonga over his dealings in Calabria with a notorious mafia boss.
Mr Valleonga has always denied the allegations and in a statement sent to the ABC, Mr Vallelonga’s lawyer said any allegation the former mayor had ever been involved in criminal activity was “completely without any foundation”.
Outside of the political arena, Italian police have identified another Australian allegedly working in Calabria who is part of the influential Alvaro family.
Some members of the family were recently subjects of an international anti-mafia operation when authorities seized tonnes of cocaine and made dozens of arrests.
Confidential Italian and Australian police files state that the Alvaro clan has arms in Australia.
They are allegedly headed by Adelaide construction figure Paul Alvaro, 64, and a New South Wales man.
The pair are among figures around the country, including in Griffith, New South Wales.
A police assessment said the individuals operate as “an executive board of directors” for the Calabrian Mafia.
PNG police try to cover up $80m drug plane crash – hold fishermen at gunpoint to prevent assistance
Federal Police omitted to mention this part of the drug operation:
Letter to the Editor
from Susan Merrell, PNG, 30 July 2020Strong allegations:
What and who is behind the July 26 plane crash at Papa LeaLea? Are government agencies in PNG progressing from mere corruption into the drug trade and international crime?
Implicated is Deputy Police Commissioner Operations Donald Yamasombi who is said to have been at the crash site of aircraft, registration VHTSI at LeaLea, near Port Moresby before the AFP arrived but “said nothing” about the crash. Why not?
This accusation forms part of the unverified information I have been receiving from reliable sources, sources that I’m confident would not knowingly mislead.
The aircraft is suspected to have landed to load a cargo of cocaine on a flight, probably returning to Australia from where it had originally taken off. The question is: where did the cocaine come from and who was facilitating this?
As told to me:
“The flight left Mareeba [in Northern Queensland] and was tracked by the Aussies all the way to final impact. Shortly after take off the pilot turned off transponders [and other tracking instruments] mistakenly believing this would make him blind to radar tracking. (A lesson learnt from the MH70 fiasco!)
The strip at LeaLea is an old disused/abandoned strip but still marked on older and better navigation maps. The ever-helpful villagers had cleared it just enough for this flight. The plane landed, loaded the drugs and again, thanks to the villagers, was refuelled – the empty avgas
PNG police attend the crash of a Cessna 404 which flew from Mareeba FNQ airport, Far North Queensland. The Cessna 404 is the largest of the twin engine Cessna piston aircraft range. Built solidly it can carry 9 passengers and luggage or uplift 1 tonne of freight.
It has some 8 hours of endurance and because of its geared propellers it is one of the quietest twin engine aircraft ever built.
drums were on site, probably still are?
It should have had more than enough fuel on board for a return to Mareeba – if that’s where it was going. If it had a full fuel load when it left Mareeba, flying time would have been about 7hours, more than enough to get back.
The plane crashed on take off – it made it high enough to be picked up on radar but then went down. The most likely cause, according to assembled pilots, was a dramatic load shift, a single engine failure or simply overloaded? It appears there was a small fire in the port engine when she went down.
The police are reported to have attended the site early Monday – BULLSH*T! They were there when it happened. Four Boroko Fishing Club members were at Lealea packing up ready to leave when it happened. They were held at gunpoint by armed police for just on an hour and prevented from “rendering assistance” and/or leaving the boat ramp.
Still visible were the rest of the police doing their best to set fire to the plane wreckage and the cargo. In this they largely succeeded, particularly the cargo, of which we are told nothing remained intact. There was, and still is no sign of the pilot but blood stains on the plane’s steering wheel/instrument panel would indicate he must have got a nasty bump on the head on impact – maybe those helpful villagers are helping out again?!
Furthermore, I’ve been told that a dog unit policeman said that a chopper was sent on Monday morning to remove the wreckage but policemen were guarding the plane so they left.
Contrary to this report – I have also been told that the cargo (purportedly 500kgs of cocaine) was spirited away before the attempted destruction of the aircraft. (500 kg of Cocaine now in police custody-Editor)
That’s a lot of cocaine and worth millions on the streets of Australia. Cocaine is a high-priced recreation drug beloved of affluent drug users……..
from Susan Merrell, PNG, 30 July 2020
Further allegations from PNG Happenings Today:
How is (Deputy Police Commissioner Donald) Yamasombi’s brother in law, Hubert Namani of the PNG Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) mooted to be implicated in the saga of the plane crash at Papa Lealea along with Yamasombi’s nephew, a former PNGDF officer?
Asserted by my source, is that two of the Deputy Commissioner’s policemen went to Jacksons Airport NAC fuel depot with 15 jerry cans to collect fuel. You make the connections to the brother-in-law.
Also asserted is that 144 bags of cocaine (in 28 boxes) were taken from the site before the alarm was raised. S/he also asserts that 30 bags of cocaine were subsequently seized from the Sanctuary Hotel and that Donald Yamasombi’s ex military nephew had been seen there in the company of hotel owner, Jamie Pang. Make of that what you want too.
My source also claims that cocaine is available on the streets of Port Moresby at K500-600 ($A250 – $300) per teaspoon. At that price I posited that there couldn’t be many customers. He countered with their names. I was astonished and you’d be too, if I could tell you whom. However, there is evidence I need to gather before I am able to name them – but I know who you are alleged to be. Suffice it to say, the person who’s running this drug trade is purported to be a former policeman linked to William Kapris. (PNG high profile bank robber shot dead by police in 2013 after escaping prison)
The plot thickens.
I am now told that the police have 28 boxes containing 144 packs of cocaine at police headquarters and I’m also told that the reserve police officer working with customs is Jason Tan’s brother-in-law. Jason (Malaysian-born business leader) is suspected to have (previously) killed the Alice Springs (Northern Territory) owner of the plane that crashed – a Geoffrey Bull?
From ABC, 2019:
“A search of Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s register shows the Cessna’s registration holder is a PNG company called RAVENPOL NO. 69.
Company documents show its sole director and shareholder is Geoffrey Paul Bull (of Alice Springs), but several sources have said he was murdered in Port Moresby last year.
According to the aircraft register Ravenpol became the registration holder in January this year, after Mr Bull’s death….”
In an undercover operation ongoing prior to the Cessna flying to PNG, police have caught and charged a number of the Melbourne drug syndicate members who arrived in Atherton by air earlier in July.
https://spaces.hightail.com/space/e6w7U7dpgR
To be continued…….
Wow...
Interesting article,
Of course C402 is not a C404 with geared engines. Fuel drums were 20 litre plastic containers.
Important to remember the following in PNG:
All robberies and heists etc are INSIDE jobs. The wantok system.
Politicians, police, public servants, are corrupt ... not all the but the good ones are hard to find!
Of course C402 is not a C404 with geared engines. Fuel drums were 20 litre plastic containers.
Important to remember the following in PNG:
All robberies and heists etc are INSIDE jobs. The wantok system.
Politicians, police, public servants, are corrupt ... not all the but the good ones are hard to find!
Not the first time , and wont be the last no doubt, of " unusual flight occurrences " in and out of Mareeba.
There has been a slight increase in ops at the place. 1 new hangar in the recent development areas and more to follow at the western end, including, hopefully the start of construction of the FNQ Air Museum, to showcase the WW2 history of the field and earlier Cape York pioneering aviation.
There has been a slight increase in ops at the place. 1 new hangar in the recent development areas and more to follow at the western end, including, hopefully the start of construction of the FNQ Air Museum, to showcase the WW2 history of the field and earlier Cape York pioneering aviation.
The plane crashed on take off – it made it high enough to be picked up on radar but then went down. The most likely cause, according to assembled pilots, was a dramatic load shift, a single engine failure or simply overloaded? It appears there was a small fire in the port engine when she went down.
So the C402 got airborne, to be picked up on radar. Then had a issue! and stops not very far from the end of the airstrip.
This with lots of fuel and + 500kg of freight,on a strip of about 900m.
Dramatic load shift- aft on after rotation. My guess a stall with different debris pattern.
Single engine failure after rotation. My guess much further to the left of centre line - and far deeper into the woods (possible feathered prop)
Overloaded after airborne. My guess far deeper into the woods & more pruned trees.
I guess I am saying given required fuel, 500+kg freight and short unpaved strip, I do not think it is possible for a C402 to get airborne and be mostly intact so close to the end of the runway.
Who cares what caused the crash, the whole mission was obviously going to be a complete disaster for those involved from the onset, based on the intel that the authorities already had.
The accident may have actually saved the pilot’s life, what’s to say that he couldn’t have ended up in the Coral Sea if the left engine failed/caught fire enroute. Pure speculation of course.
Looks like a Pandora’s Box is slowly being opened up.
The accident may have actually saved the pilot’s life, what’s to say that he couldn’t have ended up in the Coral Sea if the left engine failed/caught fire enroute. Pure speculation of course.
Looks like a Pandora’s Box is slowly being opened up.
So shall be a very long rest.
Thread Starter
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Location: Port Moresby - The beer is cold at the Aviat and Car Clubs
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Four (4) arrests so far today;
Two locals at a auto repair shop, both with $40k AUD in their possession
Two locals at Sunset Lodge, near Lea Lea
Further charges pending against pilot
The locals will sell each other for a good meal and a packet of cigs.
Two locals at a auto repair shop, both with $40k AUD in their possession
Two locals at Sunset Lodge, near Lea Lea
Further charges pending against pilot
The locals will sell each other for a good meal and a packet of cigs.
I suggest there would be little local involvement in the execution let alone planning of this glorious plot. The Mafia in Australia and the South American supplier (assuming this was trans-shipped Coke) are experienced in their business and would have little need to insert a bunch of wantoks into the movement of the gear from a boat or shipping container onto a truck out to the airstrip - it would be fairly easy to put your own couple of guys in-county for a few months prior to the day or two it would take to do the operation. I can straight-up think of two legit reasons to lengthen the local landowner's strip for him without raising any suspicions (but hey I'm not running a smuggling course).
On the other hand, despite half a billion dollars worth of coke being at stake, Mario and the guys allowing the half arsed nature of the Mareeba / 402 phase of this plot to proceed could mean that they were actually not as bright as they thought they were.
However, if this was an entirely PNG-designed plan, then burning aircraft parked in the bushes and pure chaos all round would be far more likely
On the other hand, despite half a billion dollars worth of coke being at stake, Mario and the guys allowing the half arsed nature of the Mareeba / 402 phase of this plot to proceed could mean that they were actually not as bright as they thought they were.
However, if this was an entirely PNG-designed plan, then burning aircraft parked in the bushes and pure chaos all round would be far more likely
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Correction on my prior post.
Cessna was seen on radar after take off, that means its more likely
that he chose to return to land and overshot. I don't mind the speculation but
its very obvious that many know far more than what is public right now.
Cessna was seen on radar after take off, that means its more likely
that he chose to return to land and overshot. I don't mind the speculation but
its very obvious that many know far more than what is public right now.
JORN
As far as I can remember the JORN system is more broad based surveillance but can be focused in certain areas if required. So if there was intelligence that such a flight was happening then they could certainly track it across to PNG and back.
But from all the articles I’ve ever read about it, JORN doesn’t see everything, everywhere, all the time. Plus I think the state of the ionosphere can affect it as well (it bounces radio waves to get ‘over the horizon’).
Otherwise why would the occasional refugee boat sneak through? Or what about MH370, the coverage maps show JORN has the potential to see out that far.
But from all the articles I’ve ever read about it, JORN doesn’t see everything, everywhere, all the time. Plus I think the state of the ionosphere can affect it as well (it bounces radio waves to get ‘over the horizon’).
Otherwise why would the occasional refugee boat sneak through? Or what about MH370, the coverage maps show JORN has the potential to see out that far.