Authorities Zimbabwe aviation impounded a
U.S.-registered cargo jet, a senior official said
Monday, with a dead body and millions of South
African rand reportedly on board.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe general manager
David Chawota confirmed a plane registered with
Western Global Airlines was impounded at Harare
International Airport on Sunday. A web site says
Western Global Airlines is based in Estero, Florida.
"The case is now in the hands of the state. It
involves nationals and property of other countries so
I am no longer qualified to give much detail but yes
we impounded the plane on Sunday," Chawota told
The Associated Press.
Zim MPs
"The crew requested to land for refueling but our
ground-handling personnel discovered blood leaks and
became suspicious. Talk to the police for more
details," he said by telephone, refusing to give details
about the crew or the cargo.
Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she did
not have the facts of the case yet.
State-run Herald newspaper, quoting unnamed
sources, reported on Monday that the MD-11 trijet
was traveling from Germany to South Africa "stashed
with millions of rands." At today's exchange rate, 1
million rand is worth $62,500.
The crew, according to the Herald, includes two
Americans, a South African and a Pakistani. The U.S.
Embassy said it does not yet have a comment on the
matter. Several U.S. embassy vehicles were seen at
the airport Monday morning.
In 2004, Harare airport authorities impounded a plane
with 64 people on board, who were arrested on
accusations that they had been on their way to stage
a coup in Equatorial Guinea.
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