“Chapo” Guzmán gave a jet to an official of “Mel” Zelaya’s government
San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
A power wielded by Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, the former leader of the The Sinaloa CartelClassified by bribes disguised as lavish gifts.
Gold-plated weapons, armored trucks, farms and thoroughbred horses are among the gifts that illuminate the stories about their lives.
However, there is a special gift that has a connection with Honduras. The country was not as far removed from the burden of the Mexican boss as it was supposed to be. In fact, it was the country in which he took refuge and in which he had his most fruitful partners.
Joaquín Guzmán gave a private jet to a Honduran official who for years became an example of the power of drug traffickers in Honduras.
According to reports, the plane was given to a politician in the government of Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales, who held the presidency of Honduras while Guzmán headed the Loera Sinaloa cartel.
In May 2015, an investigation led by Honduran Congressman Mario Perez revealed that the luxury gift had been abandoned in 2015. Toncontin International AirportLocated in Tegucigalpa in 2006.
Delivery
Chronology indicates that the Grumman G-II jet, with Mexican license plate XB-JPL, left Mexico on February 24, 2006, bound for Honduras and its future owner.
He landed in Tonkontin that same night, when the airport was deserted, Infobay recounted in a recent report.
Two days later, on 26 February, the Civil Aviation The aircraft’s presence was discovered, so authorities secured it while waiting to claim its owner.
Years later the two pilots of the plane declared that ‘El Chapo’ He ordered the jet to be sent to Honduras. To date, it is unknown which Honduran official the gift was intended for.
Auctioned
On August 31, 2006, the then Attorney General LEONIDAS ROSA BAUTISTA announced that the mysterious jet would be auctioned once the legal deadline for claiming expired. This prediction came true on October 19.
On February 13, 2007, a few days after its discovery, the Honduran government offered the plane. 14 bidders, 13 of them are Americans and one is Canadian. However, only 10 remained till the end.
The jet was eventually sold 736 thousand dollarsDespite the estimated cost of 20 million dollars.
Among its notable features, it was built in 1966, had a maximum capacity of 19 passengers, a length of 24.4 meters and an empty weight of 17,735 kilograms.
The buyer, known as CEC, turns out to be an American billionaire who bought the plane as a gift for his daughter.