A Piper Seneca twin engine was intercepted by A-29 Super Tucano aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) on the afternoon of Wednesday (01) in the interior of Mato Grosso. The plane, which had no flight plan, was carrying 400 kg of cocaine.
The t operation brought together resources from the FAB itself, the Federal Police, PMMT, the Integrated Air Operations Center (CIOPAer) and the Special Border Group (GEFRON).

Upon detecting the entry of the unidentified plane into Brazilian airspace, the FAB assigned an E-99 radar plane and A-29 fighter jets to monitor and intercept the target. The E-99s, operated by the Guardian squadron at Anápolis Air Force Base, provide detection and tracking of multiple targets at long ranges.
According to the FAB, the use of this technology is indispensable in an air operations scenario, in view of the aircraft's flexibility in positioning together with the ability to detect traffic at low altitude, allowing radar coverage of areas of interest to the Command of the Air Force (COMAER), in addition to aircraft control, regardless of the existing Command and Control structure on the ground.

After the interception, the pilot of the illicit aircraft landed on an unapproved runway in the interior of the state and fled. The Security Forces on the ground approached and seized the shipment of drugs.
According to Federal police, the activity is part of the t and integrated effort of the security forces involved to repress illicit flights in small aircraft loaded with drugs. Investigations and attacks against drug trafficking continue, with special attention to the arrest of leaders and the decapitalization of criminal organizations.

This is the second drug trafficking aircraft intercepted by the Air Force in less than a month. on the last occasion, the plane loaded with drugs made a forced landing in a field in the interior of São Paulo.