Russia’s ‘cocaine jet’ heads to Alaska

Source: Meduza

A Russian government aircraft with a scandalous past flew from Moscow to Alaska on Thursday morning, ahead of Friday’s high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The Il-96 with tail number RA-96023 departed Vnukovo Airport around 8 a.m., Moscow time, bound for Anchorage.

The same aircraft was central to a cocaine smuggling scandal that embarrassed the Kremlin nearly a decade ago. In December 2016, Argentine authorities discovered nearly 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of cocaine in suitcases at the Russian embassy school in Buenos Aires. Police replaced the drugs with flour, and the bags were later shipped aboard an Il-96 with tail number RA-96023 to Moscow, where several suspects were arrested. Four men were sentenced to 13 to 18 years in prison for the smuggling operation.

The RA-96023 aircraft belongs to Russia’s Special Flight Squadron, which typically transports top Russian officials, including former Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev. According to Russian media reports, the Il-96 that flew to Alaska on Thursday morning is likely carrying an advance team preparing for the Putin-Trump meeting, though passenger details remain classified. The summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson aims to discuss ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Trump describing it as a “feel-out” meeting to gauge Putin’s seriousness about peace.

Background

Cocaine-packed, Moscow-bound suitcases found at Russia’s Buenos Aires embassy. What’s new in this wild scandal?

Why is it
important
to support
Meduza
now?Read here

Russia’s ‘cocaine jet’ heads to Alaska

Cocaine-packed, Moscow-bound suitcases found at Russia’s Buenos Aires embassy. What’s new in this wild scandal?

{{ header_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{#is_light}}{{ title }} {{ second_title }}{{/is_light}}{{^is_light}}{{ title }} {{ second_title }}{{/is_light}}

{{ title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ second_title }}

Russia’s ‘cocaine jet’ heads to Alaska

Cocaine-packed, Moscow-bound suitcases found at Russia’s Buenos Aires embassy. What’s new in this wild scandal?

{{{ alt }}}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{#is_light}}{{ title }} {{ second_title }}{{/is_light}}{{^is_light}}{{ title }} {{ second_title }}{{/is_light}}

{{ title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }}

{{ title }} {{ second_title }}

{{ title }}

{{ second_title }}