Plane lands on the 76 highway in Oceanside; narcotics found onboard
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the name of one of the suspects and clarify who was in the passenger seat. We apologize for the error.
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A single-engine Piper PA-28 plane landed on State Route 76 in Oceanside overnight and narcotics were found onboard, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and local police.
In a statement published online, the FAA said the plane hit the roadway around 1:45 a.m. near Canyon Drive after the pilot reported engine issues. Two people were reportedly onboard at the time of the incident and were not injured during the abrupt landing.
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The Oceanside Police Department said officers responded to the area and made contact with the two individuals. A search of the plane was then conducted and police discovered a large amount of narcotics inside the plane.
A single-engine Piper PA-28 plane
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At that point, both occupants were arrested and taken into custody on suspicion of illegally transporting narcotics. During a press conference Thursday afternoon, OPD named the suspects as 21-year-old Gabriel Breit and 36-year-old Troy Smith. Both men are Oceanside residents.
Responding officers noticed that Smith, the passenger of the plane, appeared to toss a backpack into a nearby ditch. This prompted a further search, which led authorities to discover around 1 kilo, or 2.2 pounds, of narcotics.
The plane, which is believed to be a rental, was piloted by Breit. Police said they were traveling to Oceanside from Phoenix when they reported having engine trouble prior to the emergency landing. It’s unknown if this was due to low fuel or other reasons.
The North County Narcotics Task Force is investigating the incident, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FAA. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing and suspected drug trafficking remains ongoing.
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