It was two years back when an official working in U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported about the fleet of rogue aircrafts flying over the Atlantic. The aircrafts were suspected to be used for criminal and terrorist activities.

The aircrafts reportedly flew between the most unstable countries of West Africa and cocaine-producing areas located in the Andes. Reuters obtained a copy of that report but it was put into backburner. Now the security officials in various countries have acknowledged that the issue has emerged into a massive security threat. The rogue fleet is comprised of twin-engine turboprops, retired Boeing 727s and executive jets. As per the latest updates, the clandestine fleet is being used for notorious terrorist outfit Al Qaeda to smuggle drugs and narcotic stuffs to Europe from several areas in Africa.

10 such aircrafts have been spotted flying through this route, post 2006. However, the officials who have tracked this fleet warn that the actual number of such aircrafts could be much higher. These planes were detected by chance. The security experts are worried that the aircrafts are also being used for carrying things other than drugs. If the terrorist outfits use these fleets for transferring weapons across continents, the possibility of incidents like 9/11 cannot be ruled out. The UN is worried about this development.

It is a well known fact that post the September 11 attacks, the passenger air traffic security has been stepped up by several degrees in USA and many other nations. The news of the clandestine fleet has created sensation in the White House and president Barack Obama has asked the intelligence officials to trace the whereabouts of the rogue aviation network. However, it can be an uphill task for them.

(THAINDIAN NEWS)