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Sabotage Plot Exposed
Reckless Sea Chase Ends In Disaster


By Robert Waterman
Sun-Sentinel Staff Writer
Archived February 23, 1981

Fort Lauderdale — Alberto Garcia, head of the Miami office of the FBI, announced late yesterday evening that the Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, the FAA, and the FBI were jointly investigating "one of the most complex cases of industrial sabotage ever to have been uncovered." While Garcia could only provide scant details concerning the investigation, he did credit local resident Rick Harris as being instrumental in discovering "an elaborate and ruthless conspiracy" against Brazilian aircraft manufacturer RioAero, SA.

Rick Harris, a long-time aviation industry executive and recently appointed sales director for RioAero, had been focusing on improving the weak sales record for his company's new-generation regional airliner when he came across a number of highly suspicious incidents. It was then that Harris realized weak sales were the least of his problems.

 
 
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While RioAero recently endured a rash of unusual and seemingly unrelated mishaps, the company's misfortunes crescendoed over this past weekend. Suddenly, RioAero's very existence was in question. In the nick of time, Harris unraveled the common thread to the tragedies that had been dogging his employer.

The climax started late Sunday afternoon with a pair of thundering offshore racers dueling it out in a perilous cat-and-mouse chase. Their reckless high-speed clash began along the Intracoastal Waterway and damaged several other boats--one severely--before the chase spilled out into the open waters of the Gulfstream. Ten miles west of Bimini, the pursuit came to an abrupt end with the total destruction of a Cigarette 41/OS.

A Coast Guard cutter dispatched from Miami rescued three survivors and recovered ten kilos of cocaine. Even though the FBI would provide little information due to their ongoing investigation, a source exclusive to the Sun-Sentinel disclosed that this event was the culmination of an intricate plot of international proportions.

Arrested by the FBI on multiple charges, including kidnapping, attempted murder, and drug trafficking, were (See Archives, #81-2-364-9. SABOTAGE, A10, Col. 1)



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