Diksha Sundriyal
In Netflix’s ‘Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30,000 Ft.,’ four French nationals are arrested in the Dominican Republic on charges of drug trafficking. Around 700 kg of cocaine was found in the plane, which they were supposed to fly from the Punta Cana airport back to France. Alain Castany was one of those four people. He claimed he was a simple passenger, but the authorities believed he held a much more significant role in the case than he let on.
Alain Castany Claimed Complete Innocence in the Drug Trafficking Case
Hailing from Perpignan, France, Alain Castany indulged in different kinds of trades before he came to be known for the “Air Cocaine” scandal. Until 2003, he ran an insurance firm in Narbonne, and later moved into aviation as he had a passion for flying. In March 2013, he was on board as a replacement pilot, a norm for long flights, on the Falcon 50 plane piloted by Bruno Odos and Pascal Fauret with Nicolas Pisapia as co-passenger. The plane was preparing to take off from the Punta Cana airport when the authorities stormed in and arrested all four of them.
The 26 bags, some of which were in the lounge area because they couldn’t all fit in the cargo hold, were found to be filled with cocaine. Castany was accused of witnessing the loading of the drugs onto the plane, among other things. He claimed innocence in the entire matter and said that while the bags were being loaded on the plane, he and an employee of the airport were at a different terminal looking for Nicolas Pisapia. His lawyer claimed that he had been deliberately kept away while loading because he had nothing to do with the drugs, and the pilots didn’t want him to find out about it.
In August 2015, the court of the Dominican Republic found Castany guilty of the charges levied against him and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. He filed an appeal against the conviction, but it was rejected in November 2016. By this time, he had faced severe health issues, primarily caused by the accident he suffered while out on bail. He sustained a serious injury when he was hit by a motorcycle. He was hospitalised for such a long time that he attended the hearing of his case and the appeal while on a stretcher. The injury was worsened by the fact that he suffered multiple fractures after it, and at one point, it seemed that he would lose his leg if it were not taken care of properly.
Alain Castany Managed to Return to France
What made things worse for Alain Castany’s case was the escape of Bruno Odos and Pascal Fauret from the Dominican Republic. He considered it a highly irresponsible act, which hurt his chances in court and put him in jeopardy. He worried that his chances of being repatriated to France might be spoiled because of their actions, which could result in the amputation of his leg. However, he found a legal way to return to France in June 2017. He spent some time in a prison cell in Fresnes before he was released on medical grounds. It was also ensured that he would receive proper care, especially the much-needed surgeries, for his leg.
At the same time, the French court continued to look into the matter. Because Castany had already been convicted of drug trafficking by the Dominican court, the French court couldn’t try him for the same crime again. Instead, they charged him with criminal conspiracy. Now, in his late 70s, Alain Castany still feels the brunt of the case in his life. Reportedly, he has undergone fourteen rounds of surgery since his arrival in France. While his leg is better now, his health has been weakened over the years.
The verdict of the French court regarding the charges remains unclear, but due to his health problems, he has been allowed to stay at home, rather than being confined in prison. His family, particularly his two daughters, have stood by him through all these years, and they are happy that he is home after suffering the harsh conditions in the prison of the Dominican Republic and the permanent medical crisis since his accident. Meanwhile, Castany has chosen to stay out of the public limelight and has not given any interviews to the media or participated in any documentaries made about the case.
Read More: Nicolas Pisapia: Where is the Cocaine Air Flight Passenger Now?
