Zimbabwe says seizes U.S. plane, "mercenaries"

Reuters | March 8, 2004

[HAL9000]

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe has seized a U.S.-registered cargo plane with 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities and a cargo of "military material", Home Affairs (Interior) Minister Kembo Mohadi said on Monday.

"A United States of America-registered Boeing 727-100 cargo plane was detained last night at about 19:30 hours at Harare International Airport after its owners had made a false declaration of its cargo and crew," Mohadi said in a statement.

[HAL9000]

Agence France-Presse -

Zimbabwe seizes US plane

Zimbabwean security authorities today impounded a United States-registered aircraft that landed at the country's main international airport.

The plane had military equipment and 64 personnel aboard, suspected to be mercenaries, Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said.

"A United States of America-registered Boeing 727-100 cargo plane was detained last night at about 1930 hours at Harare International Airport after its owners had made a false declaration of its cargo and crew," the minister told a news conference.

"The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities," he said.

"Further investigations also revealed that on board the plane was military material."

Mohadi said full details would be issued in due course but that in the meantime investigations were under way to establish the "true identities of the men and their ultimate mission".

The plane had been moved to a military base, he said.

What had been done with those on board was not immediately clear.

[Seruzawa]

Mugabe's attempted suicide?

[cripplecreek]

Zimbabwe isn't China. Someone should point out to Mugabe that he doesn't hold any chips to bargain with.

[Prodigal Son]

Mercs. Hmmm. It that's true, I wonder who was footing the bill for that operation?

[InShanghai]

Mercenaries... Hmmm, I wonder if they wear white hats or black hats. spec ops doing something?

[Riley]

On the other hand, this is coming out of the mouths of the Zim government, so it could be anything or nothing at all. If they'd really caught a planeload of mercs and weapons, I'd expect Mugabe to milk it for all the propaganda value that it's worth.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Zimbabe might regret this little action.

[InShanghai]

Could read like a Clancy novel: mercs are really 'Rainbow Six' flying out of South Africa into Somalia... heading for __________ .

In any case, the Zim gov't has just opened pandora's box.

[Riley]

Ah, I don't know. I couldn't see some international high-end spec ops unit depending on one airplane so heavily without a 'go to hell plan'.

[InShanghai]

;-) you're probably right. spec ops is more professional than that! Besides, sixty-four personnel on a chartered jet with heavy gear would be a bit obvious.

The question now is what color hat band their black hats have.

[cyborg]

I wonder hmmm.... (putting on my tinfoil hat)

[cyborg]

I don't know what to make of this. I don't want to sound like a tinfoil hat nutter!

[Riley]

727-100 capacity is:

Flightcrew of three (two pilots and flight engineer). Typical two class seating for 94, max seating for 131.

Well within capacity, even assuming company-level small arms and say, 3X basic load.

Who has the juice and big interests, financial or otherwise, at stake in Zim?

[Cobra Scott]

Big Tobacco (no joke).

[KarlInOhio]

Were the "mercenaries" equipped with cameras and maps to Victoria Falls?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

AP story:

___________________________________________________

Today: March 08, 2004 at 7:30:37 PST

Zimbabwe Seizes U.S.-Registered Plane

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Zimbabwean authorities have seized a U.S.-registered cargo plane carrying 64 "suspected mercenaries" and military equipment, the Home Affairs minister said Monday.

The Boeing 727-100 was detained at Harare's main airport late Sunday after its owners allegedly made "a false declaration of its cargo and crew," Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mahadi said at a news briefing.

"The plane was actually carrying 64 suspected mercenaries of various nationalities," Mohadi said. "Further investigations also revealed that on board was military material."

The plane was moved to a nearby military base for further inquiries, he said.

Mohadi said full details would be released once officials have established "the true identities of the men and their ultimate mission."

Journalists were not shown the plane, which Mohadi said had been moved to a nearby military base, and the government's claims could not be independently verified.

U.S. Embassy officials said they had not been informed of the incident and were trying to obtain details from Zimbabwe authorities.

President Robert Mugabe repeatedly has accused the United States and Britain of plotting to overthrow his autocratic regime.

--

[Walkingfeather]

either way it is not good for our side. If their is an american side to this they can then use it as a pawn. Like the guy that was shot down and started the whole iran contra problem.

[r9etb]

Hokay, let's see here.

A planeload of mercenaries and their cargo of military supplies decides to fly into Zimbabwe's main airport in an ill-fated attempt to do something unkind to Robert Mugabe.

Any group of mercenaries that stupid deserves to get captured.

Always assuming, of course, that the Zimbabwean government's word can be trusted on this matter.

[cyborg]

You're right... if anything it will draw more attention to the Zim crisis and out Mugabe for the commie he is.