Part 4/9:
However, the flight would meet disaster. Technical failures caused the plane to crash in the jungles of Panama at 5,000 feet. What followed was a harrowing struggle for survival. The group had to abandon the plane quickly, fearing for their lives as well as the immediate threat of exposure due to the cargo they were carrying.
The trafficker’s decision to bring $150,000 in cash aboard turned out to be a significant factor in their subsequent plight. After a brief encounter with local authorities, he attempted to bribe a small-town officer to secure their freedom.