A T7 WSS charter plane, registered in San Marino, has been stopped in Lusaka, Zambia, after loads of gold bars, “a mountain” of cash, weapons and ammunition were found on board.
The most important thing for the investigation is that there were several passengers of different nationalities on board and other collaborators in the field are suspected.
According to Corriere della Serra, the arrest of the plane by Zambia’s anti-drug services in Lusaka is shrouded in mystery.
The plane arrived a few hours before it was intercepted by the local police, from Cairo. It is registered in San Marino and belongs to a charter company based in Dubai and Belgium, but often flies to Africa or the Middle East.
Agents seized 601 gold bars inside the aircraft, but analysis revealed they were made from a “high percentage of low-value minerals”.
They then found bags with over $5 million in cash, three handguns and a hundred rounds of ammunition.
In successive stages, a South African businessman, several Zambians, six Egyptians who had just “landed”, then a Dutchman, a Lithuanian and a Spaniard were arrested.
Some have had defense dealings in Egypt in the past, including a former major, while others are involved in arms trafficking, large-scale fraud and corruption episodes.
The scenario narrated by the local media is actually that of a hoax.
He takes off on the plane that brought buyers to Lusaka welcomed by the South African national, to show them on the plane a “shipment” of gold bars, possibly offering them some authentic tested and certified pieces.
However, the buyers want a larger sum, and the broker demands and receives an advance – apparently of several million dollars – and promises to return with the rest of the gold.
Except for the fact that the anti-drug service must have received information, while the police took measures and intervened by searching the plane to find the “treasure”.