People smuggler jailed - Cessna seized
Thread Starter
People smuggler jailed - Cessna seized
I wonder if this was an isolated incidence?
Pilot jailed for six years for attempting to smuggle migrants into Seething airfield - Crime - Eastern Daily Press
Hope we don't see a trend here as we can guess the response.
Pilot jailed for six years for attempting to smuggle migrants into Seething airfield - Crime - Eastern Daily Press
Hope we don't see a trend here as we can guess the response.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: The World
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No, I guess it is not. Btw: what happened to the arrest in Messolonghi in May 2016, where they arrested some local guys from a flying club and a bunch of migrants (was it Iraqi?), which were on their way to be flown (illegally?) to Italy in a PA32, carrying drugs and weapons?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the late '70's as a new PPL, I used to rent a seemingly unused C 172, which was based at Toronto International Airport (YYZ) (back when light aircraft were tolerated there). This 172 was decently equipped, and always available, the fellow who owned it was entirely agreeable to about any use of it, and it was available at a very attractive rental - around $35 per hour, if I recall. I always wondered how he made a buck with that plane.
He also had a C-310 and C-337, which were said to be available for rent, but were much less available. I never did manage to rent any time on either for training toward a multi rating. It turned out that these two aircraft were operated in harmony, smuggling up from the United States. They would be flown over lake Erie, in an area which I suppose had poor primary radar coverage. One TXP off would cross paths with the other, and swap TXP codes, while the smuggler would then turn his TXP off, and sneak off to a no customs landing site. I don't know exactly how they were caught, but I heard they were. I suppose a sharp customs agent realized that a C-310 filed the flight plan, but a C-337 arrived on it! The 172 was just a smokescreen....
He also had a C-310 and C-337, which were said to be available for rent, but were much less available. I never did manage to rent any time on either for training toward a multi rating. It turned out that these two aircraft were operated in harmony, smuggling up from the United States. They would be flown over lake Erie, in an area which I suppose had poor primary radar coverage. One TXP off would cross paths with the other, and swap TXP codes, while the smuggler would then turn his TXP off, and sneak off to a no customs landing site. I don't know exactly how they were caught, but I heard they were. I suppose a sharp customs agent realized that a C-310 filed the flight plan, but a C-337 arrived on it! The 172 was just a smokescreen....
If you want to bring people into Europe/the UK illegally all you have to do is tell them to set out on anything floating that they can get their hands on, then sail your own boat over and pick them up. If you do it this way you are magically transformed from a criminal to a rescuer.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The port cops up here in Scotland are really on top of this stuff, They're always dropping by the field or calling to check stuff, they said they're looking for drug and people smugglers, terrorism and basically any other **** a pilot is getting up to that he shouldn't be.
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: go west
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When officers searched Barteska, they found him in possession of just over 5,000 Euros.
*grabs hat, coat..
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Strathaven Airfield
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And the Lille loophole is still working, despite the Carriage 18 rule!
And this gives more about other ways:
https://www.channel4.com/news/immigr...ne-theresa-may
And this gives more about other ways:
https://www.channel4.com/news/immigr...ne-theresa-may
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: England & Scotland
Age: 63
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
But they do sometimes get caught, like the chap renting an R44 out of Redhill, followed back into the UK by the Police helicopter (based at the hangar next but 1 at Redhill) and filmed making his drugs drop.
Join Date: May 2011
Location: France
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Back in the early 70s we had a Jodel based at our field 1050? The engine was always a bit tired for the hours and the owner rented it out sometimes.
So, I get a call from an Essex airfield saying that several blokes of Asian looks were seen getting out of it and dissapearing into a waiting car. Sort of explained the engine being a bit tired as they were exceeding the MTO and flying across the N. sea at high power setting. Told the owner and he limited the people who he rented to
We heard of several others doing such trips at the time.
So, I get a call from an Essex airfield saying that several blokes of Asian looks were seen getting out of it and dissapearing into a waiting car. Sort of explained the engine being a bit tired as they were exceeding the MTO and flying across the N. sea at high power setting. Told the owner and he limited the people who he rented to
We heard of several others doing such trips at the time.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I've only once been asked for a passport when flying privately between England and France. This was on leaving L2K - but it seems that even then you don't need a passport if you follow this protocol, which I have observed in action:
You: "Sorry mate, I left my passport in the aircraft, OK if I just go and get it for you?"
Policeman: "Yeah, sure."
You: Walk to your aircraft, get in and take off.
You: "Sorry mate, I left my passport in the aircraft, OK if I just go and get it for you?"
Policeman: "Yeah, sure."
You: Walk to your aircraft, get in and take off.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Qwerty
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This has been going on for years, I can recall some chap being nicked at Headcorn about ten years ago after doing a little illegal public transport, very illegal public transport!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: England & Scotland
Age: 63
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Theoretically it would come up on the Bumblebee Auction site
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Age: 79
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Be VERY carefull.
If it does not come with the full history required for a CofA you will never be able to fly it and it is only worth scrap value.
Items seized from criminals seldom come with paperwork.
If it does not come with the full history required for a CofA you will never be able to fly it and it is only worth scrap value.
Items seized from criminals seldom come with paperwork.
