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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sahara cocaine plane crash probed | Sahara cocaine plane crash probed |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The UN is investigating the crash in the Sahara desert of a cargo plane, which is thought to have been carrying cocaine from Venezuela. | The UN is investigating the crash in the Sahara desert of a cargo plane, which is thought to have been carrying cocaine from Venezuela. |
| Alexandre Schmidt from the UN drugs agency told the BBC that the plane could have carried up to 10 tonnes of cocaine, which has not been found. | Alexandre Schmidt from the UN drugs agency told the BBC that the plane could have carried up to 10 tonnes of cocaine, which has not been found. |
| West Africa has become a major transit point for Latin American cocaine. | West Africa has become a major transit point for Latin American cocaine. |
| But Mr Schmidt said the size of the plane which crashed in Mali, near Gao, came as "a complete surprise". | But Mr Schmidt said the size of the plane which crashed in Mali, near Gao, came as "a complete surprise". |
| He said that the engine numbers were being checked to confirm the type of plane and whether it had originated in Venezuela. | He said that the engine numbers were being checked to confirm the type of plane and whether it had originated in Venezuela. |
| The plane, made by Boeing, seems to have encountered problems after taking off from a remote air strip 15km from Gao and was ditched in the desert. | |
| Mr Schmidt said the plane was then burnt, leaving little evidence for investigators. | |
| No bodies were found at the crash site and it is not known what happened to the unloaded shipment | |
| Most cocaine is transported from Latin America to West Africa by small planes or boats, before being trafficked on to Europe. | Most cocaine is transported from Latin America to West Africa by small planes or boats, before being trafficked on to Europe. |