Officials Shoot Down Drug Plane in Peru, Fight in Gun Battle

Peruvian drug enforcement agents downed a small plane suspected of trafficking drugs on May 3 in the remote valley of Pichis Palcazu, then engaged the suspects in a three-hour gun battle, authorities said. The dramatic video, filmed by a police officer, shows the plane crash and the firefight. Authorities seized 70 kilograms of cocaine chlorinate from the plane but believe the suspects hid at least 200 additional kilograms of drugs, since the planes are capable of carrying up to 300 kg. According to the United Nations, Peru is the world’s second largest supplier of cocaine, after Colombia.