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Residents find burning plane on roadway near Bacalar

Bacalar, Q.R. — A small aircraft that was reportedly found burning after landing on a roadway is thought to be that of a drug smuggling operation.

The plane was found on a roadway in Maya Balam in the municipality of Bacalar around 4:00 a.m. Police and military personnel were alerted to the presence of the plane in Maya Balam by area residents who made the report to emergency 911.

Elements of the army and Quintana Roo police moved in to secure what they could, however, the aircraft had already been emptied of its cargo and its occupants, gone, but not before setting the plane ablaze.

Area residents reported seeing a group of five people empty the plane of its cargo after it landed. Authorities began a search in the vicinities of Chetumal and Calderitas for those aboard the plane.

They were successful in locating a white Dodge Ram pickup with Colima license plates, but the occupants inside managed to flee into the jungle without being captured.

Members of the National Guard, Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena), Navy (Semar), Federal Ministerial and Quintana Roo police arrived in strategic parts along with a Mexican Air Force helicopter to continue their search.