Liberia: National Security Agency Questions Liberia Airport Authority over Complacency in Mystery Plane Saga - FrontPageAfrica
by Selma Lomax · FrontPageAfricaShare
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Monrovia — FrontPageAfrica has gathered that the National Security Agency (NSA) has reportedly called in the management of the Liberia Airport Authority for questioning for alleged complacency in the mystery plane which was arrested in neighbouring Sierra Leone last month.
By Selma Lomax selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com
The mysterious plane, said to have flown from Liberia on September 20 and allegedly en route to Mexico, landed in Freetown without the necessary clearance and was found to be using a fake registration number, FrontPageAfrica gathered.
Sierra Leonean authorities stated that the 14-seater aircraft lacked proper landing permits and did not originate from any recognized airfield in Liberia.
According to the Sierra Leonean government, the crew refused to present their documents, but it was later confirmed that three members are Mexican nationals, and one holds a Spanish passport.
And weeks after, FrontPageAfrica gathered from reliable sources that the senior management of the Liberia Airport Authority (L.A.A.) has been roped in by the National Security Agency (N.S.A.)
“The joint security of the Republic of Liberia descended upon the offices of the L.A.A. in Margibi County on Monday and held a closed-door meeting with L.A.A. Managing Director Jero H. MendsCole and his principal deputies in a bid to ascertain facts about the plane which is said to have made a stop in Liberia before heading to Sierra Leone where it was arrested for lack of proper landing permits and erased registration numbers,” our source hinted FrontPageAfrica.
Our source also indicated that the mystery private jet indeed made a stop at Liberia’s Roberts International Airport before heading to Sierra Leone.
How the mystery plane evaded detection and arrest by authorities of the L.A.A. is the crux of investigation as the N.S.A. has taken Mr. Mendscole as well as his deputies for Operations Egon M. Kuiah for questioning, FrontPageAfrica gathered.
Suspicion over mystery plane
The involvement of three Mexican nationals, a country widely known for its connection to global drug cartels, and the lack of transparency from the authorities have only fuelled speculation that this incident may be part of a larger, more sinister operation.
The LAA ‘s official statement on the incident sought to reassure the public that everything was under control. However, the details released to the public have been vague and insufficient, leaving more questions than answers.
Initial investigations revealed that the aircraft had not departed from any officially recognized airfield in Liberia and had failed to make contact with air traffic control in Sierra Leone before landing in Freetown.
Despite this glaring violation of international aviation protocols, the authorities have downplayed the severity of the incident by claiming that a thorough search of the aircraft uncovered no suspicious items. This assertion, especially considering the plane’s destination —Mexico – has left the public questioning the veracity of the investigation.
The involvement of three Mexican nationals immediately sets off red flags, given Mexico’s notorious reputation as a drug trafficking hub.
FrontPageAfrica gathered that the pilot, who initially claimed to be unable to speak English, later admitted to being paid $20,000 to fly the plane from Liberia to Mexico. This revelation should have raised immediate concerns, but instead, the LAA appeared to have brushed the incident under the rug.
This is not the first time Liberia has found itself embroiled in a drug trafficking controversy. The country’s strategic location on the West African coast makes it an attractive target for international drug cartels seeking to smuggle narcotics across continents.