The pilot that allegedly flew in the aeroplane loaded with cocaine into Freetown International Airport, George Arizabel Archilla and two other suspects Julius Ceasar Morles Cruz and Victor Alonzo Lestreto had their testimonies read in court by police detective Claude Brima.
According to George Arizabel Archilla’s statement he said he was hired form Karas in Venezuela by one Juan Armido and business partners to convey a large quantity of cocaine to Freetown. The first accused said he was instructed by his senders to contact Mohamed Sesay and Geraldo Perez when he arrived in Freetown, and to handover the consignment directly to them.
He added an amount up to $300,000 was to be given onto him after delivery.
Arizabel also admitted that he had made similar deliveries to the Republic of Guinea to the son of the late President Lansana Conteh.
As for the second accused Victor Alonzo Lastreto also a co pilot said he was just an assistant to the pilot and that he could vividly recall when some of the cocaine was loaded at the back of the plane and some in the engine in front of the plane. He said he was promised to receive up to $70,000 on his return to Venezuela.
In the case of the third accused, Julio Cesar Moreles Cruz he said he is a painter by profession and he has painted many planes in Venezuela.
He said he was at the airport painting one of the planes; when one Dr Camelo asked him to be part of the trip to Sierra Leone and that $ 20,000 await him after the exercise.
He said being one of the outstanding personalities in the country; the accused said he finds it difficult to deny him. He said what really restored confidence in him about the trip, was the Red Cross logo that was pasted on the plane which completely disguised it from any other normal plane.
However, that was what actually persuaded him to accept the trip.
He said this was his first trip to Africa. Disappointedly the ninth accused, Fernandez Leandro is the only accused who up to this moment has refused to talk to the police though he had promised to talk to the court later when he would be prepared to give details about the whole story
By Jon-Bu
ADVERTISEMENT