Ninth suspect in drug plane landing turns himself in to cops

He’s been on the run for a month but tonight another suspect believed to have been involved with the suspected drug plane that landed on the Northern Highway has turned himself in to authorities. Accompanied by his attorney, Zacharias Copo walked into the Orange Walk police station this morning. Copo’s delivery truck, containing a large plastic vat and a number of containers of aviation fuel was found abandoned near the KingAir beech craft discovered in the early morning hours of March eleventh between miles forty and forty-one on the Northern Highway. While it is believed the plane was used to transport narcotics, no drug related charges have been filed against the eight men implicated in the investigation. When he appeared before Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court today, Copo was charged with Conspiracy to Land an Aircraft, Control of Aviation Fuel, Landing of an Aircraft and Obstruction to Free Flow of Traffic. Similar charges have also been filed against Orange Walk residents forty-four year old Anthony Thurton, fifty year old Ricardo Rivera, twenty-two year old Luis Novelo, eighteen year old Irvin Cantun, nineteen year old Victor Torres, twenty-two year old Roy Lanza, forty-four year old Arnauldo Rivas and thirty-nine year old Caesar Canche. For his part, Copo was offered and met bail of ten thousand dollars.