Dubiose B727-100 in Harare festgehalten

[IL62]

Zimbabwe Impounds US Plane, Detains Suspects

Business Day (Johannesburg)

March 9, 2004

Posted to the web March 9, 2004

Dumisani Muleya

Johannesburg

ZIMBABWEAN security authorities have impounded a US-registered cargo plane and detained at a military air base 64 suspected mercenaries who were on board.

Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said yesterday that the aircraft had landed at the Harare International airport, the country's main airport, carrying 64 men of various nationalities as well a "military material".

"A US-registered Boeing 727-100 cargo plane was detained last night (Sunday) at about 7:30pm at Harare International airport after its owners made a false declaration of its cargo and crew," he said.

The plane, allegedly on a stopover, was declared to be carrying only three crew members and civilian cargo.

"The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries (=SÖLDNER) of various nationalities. Further investigations also revealed that on board the plane was military material."

Mohadi said investigations to establish the "true identities of the men and their ultimate mission" were under way and that full details would be issued in "due course".

A spokeswoman at the US embassy in Harare said her government had not been officially informed about incident and therefore would not comment on the matter.

Reporters were shown the cargo, which included a rubber dinghy, military uniforms, wire cutters, armour, compasses and other military hardware, chief police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said yesterday.

US Federal Aviation Administration records show the N4610 plane to be a 727 plane registered to Dodson Aviation based in Ottawa, Kansas.

Dodson Aviation said that it sold the plane about a week ago to an African company called Logo Ltd.

There was no information last night about the plane's origin, its destination, or why a refuelling stop was made in Harare, which has little fuel.

With the winding down of conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Angola, demand for mercenaries has decreased. The plane may have been en route to Iraq or Afghanistan, where a large number of private security firms have operations.

The fate of the plane's crew was unclear at the time of going to press, but the plane was parked at Manyame airbase.

In 1999 three Americans were arrested at the Harare International airport trying to leave the country for the Democratic Republic of Congo with guns and ammunition. At the time, Zimbabwe was fighting a war in Congo.

The three were convicted, but they were later freed and deported.

With Jonathan Katzenellenbogen

 

Quelle: http://www.allafrica.com