Two Mexican Nationals Nabbed At Bowling Green Airport With 70 Pounds Of Cocaine.

70 lbs. of cocaine seized at airport
Plane also seized; pilot, passenger each held on $5M bond
By LIZ SWITZER

Two Mexican nationals are being held in Warren County Regional Jail under $5 million bond each after authorities seized $1 million worth of cocaine from their twin-engine plane, which had stopped to refuel at the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport on Friday night, according to police and airport authorities.

Bowling Green Police Department and U.S. Department of Homeland Security officers seized 70.4 pounds of cocaine and a Piper Seneca plane.

The pilot and passenger have been identified as Dagoberto Garcia-Guillen and Jesus Adolfo Garcia-Guillen, who were taken into custody after giving authorities consent to search the plane, according to Officer Barry Pruitt, BGPD spokesman.

The two are charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Pruitt.

Authorities are releasing few details about the seizure, but a news release from city police said that authorities received information from Homeland Security at about 11:40 p.m. Friday about a suspicious aircraft that was being tracked and was expected to stop for refueling.

Upon arrival at the local airport, Bowling Green police located the aircraft and its two occupants, according to Pruitt.

Airport manager Rob Barnett, who was present at the time, said that Homeland Security officers were also present.

Following the arrests, the two were taken to Warren County Regional Jail. Bail was set Saturday morning by Warren District Judge Sam Potter.

Both men are still incarcerated and scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning before Potter, according to Lt. Tim Wilson.

The most recent large cocaine seizure in this area before Friday took place May 16, 2008, when two Tennessee men were arrested after being found with 4 kilograms of cocaine in Warren County.

Timothy Charles Crutcher, 42, of Nashville, and Troy Stockard, 44, of Antioch, Tenn., were each charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. They were taken into custody during a traffic stop on Interstate 65, five miles south of Bowling Green.