The immigration authorities explained in a statement that “when there is a reasonable suspicion that the real intention behind the entry (into the country) differs from that stated at the time of receipt of the visa, he will not be allowed to enter the territory of Argentina.”
A Venezuelan Boeing 747 carrying 14 Venezuelan crew members and five Iranians has been detained in southern Argentina since Monday on suspicion of entering the country, official sources said Sunday.
The plane, which was carrying car parts, was stuck at Buenos Aires airport Eizeza.
The immigration authorities explained in a statement that “when there is a reasonable suspicion that the real intention behind the entry (into the country) differs from that stated at the time of receipt of the visa, he will not be allowed to enter the territory of Argentina.”
Local authorities assured that no one was arrested and that the crew was staying in hotels with a temporary residence permit.
The Iranians’ passports were confiscated, but authorities said the Iranians could get them back if they left the country on a scheduled flight, while investigations continue.
The federal court of the city of Loma de Zamora has requested a report from the immigration service, the airport police, the civil aviation administration and the customs in order to resolve the issue of the immobilization of the Venezuelan plane at the airport and the return flight. crew, in the context of a habeas corpus filed by lawyer Rafael Resnik Brenner “, official sources stated.
The embassies of Iran and Venezuela were informed “through diplomatic channels”, the same sources reported.
Argentina continues to consider the presence of Iranian passengers on its planes sensitive due to the red warnings issued by Interpol against Iranians accused of being connected to the 1994 bombing of the AMIA center of the Jewish community of Argentina, which caused the death of 85 people. the injury 300.
According to local newspapers, the plane belongs to the Venezuelan company Emtrasur and was purchased in February by the Iranian company Mahan Air, which is the subject of an investigation in the United States for its alleged connections with the Tehran military forces.
The plane had landed on June 6 in the city of Cordoba (in the center of the country), as a precaution due to the fog that prevailed in the Argentine capital, then flew to Eziza.
