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.

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?

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....

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.

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.

I don't get it.. for 5k you can get an EZY ticket to Luton, a student visa from a bogus university in London and possibly you will have money left for a hostel.. some people are just plane silly

*grabs hat, coat..

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

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 hanger next but 1 at Redhill) and filmed making his drugs drop.

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:hmm:

We heard of several others doing such trips at the time.

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.

Sounds like a sure-fire recipe for a close encounter with the Marigolds the next time you turn up there, if you ask me.

And quite right, too. :E

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!

So, anyone know where and when this will come up for auction??

It will probably be scrapped unless they can find the full history, maintenance logs, etc

My thoughts exactly. Anyone has more info about it?

Theoretically it would come up on the Bumblebee Auction site

What category does it fall in on the website? Cars & Motorbikes? Also keen to bid on the plane! :-)

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.