Venezuelan police prevented the take-off of a TAP Air Portugal cargo flight after sniffer dogs detected cocaine during an inspection.
The TAP Airbus A330-900neo was preparing to operate flight TP9532 from Caracas to Lisbon on May 5.
However, the cargo flight was cancelled after police with sniffer dogs turned up in force, and discovered more than 130 kgs of cocaine stashed in various bags in the hold. The flight departed Caracas the following day.
“Venezuelan police on Wednesday prevented the take-off of a TAP cargo plane, which was supposed to fly between Maiquetía (northern Caracas) and Lisbon, after detecting an undetermined amount of narcotic substances in the aircraft’s fuselage,” said Safe Communities Portugal.
Three crew members have been accommodated in a hotel, and the local authorities started an investigation in collaboration with the airline.
