The United States Federal Authorities on tuesday seized an Aircraft belonging to one Nigerian man facing Multi-million dollar scam charges in the country.
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This happened at the Peachtree DeKalb Airport in Georgia.
Only Channel 2 investigative reporter Aaron Diamant was at Peachtree DeKalb Airport as the federal agents processed the plane for evidence.
Diamant learned the seizure is just the latest in a growing list of local cases.
“For the most part, people don’t even understand. They don’t know what’s happening in Atlanta, Georgia,” Dept. of Homeland Security Special Agent Thor Whitmore said. “We’re looking at it as kind of a turn back to the 1980s.”
The aircraft was ransacked for evidence, hard drugs and other contraband by federal agents and K-9s.
Figures have been received from the Department of Homeland Security show in 2019, the Atlanta field office spun up more than 1,100 cases and made 779 arrests. So far, it has led to 254 indictments and 241 convictions.
Although seizing a jet is rare, this year, local agents seized more than 200 guns, five tons of drugs and more than $4.3 million in cash.
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer said, “This is all day, every day. I mean, this is the fruits of our labor, and this is the successes of a great team effort by our state, local and federal partners coming together to hit the bad guys where it hurts, in their pocket”.
Agents won’t say categorically say how they connected the plane to the man now facing fraud charges.
Homeland Security Special Agent Thor Whitmore said, “When we see a certain type of aircraft get sold, it raises our suspicions”.
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The accused was in court on Tuesday for an initial appearance as federal agents went through the plane.
A removal hearing will also be held to send him back to New York, where the charges he faces were originally filed.