An Australian pilot has died after his plane crashed in a sugarcane field in Brazil, carrying nearly 200kg of cocaine wrapped in counterfeit SpaceX packaging, according to local media reports.
The crash occurred on Sunday in Coruripe, a coastal area in Brazil's Alagoas state. The pilot was found dead outside the aircraft. Firefighters were called to the scene at 1:48 pm due to explosion risks, but no detonation occurred.
Brazilian federal police said they found evidence of international drug trafficking. Between 180kg and 195kg of cocaine was recovered, with over 187 packets bearing fake SpaceX branding—the company owned by billionaire Elon Musk.
The aircraft, registered in Zambia, had been operating in Brazil for at least two years. It was equipped with extra fuel tanks, suggesting a long-distance journey. Authorities believe the plane used Alagoas as a stopover on an international trafficking route.
Federal police stated they will continue investigating to identify the owner of the illicit material. No flight plan was recorded, and the origin and destination of the plane remain unknown.
Brazil's Federal Police seized 74.5 tonnes of cocaine in 2024, an increase of over two tonnes from the previous year, according to InSight Crime.
