A Cessna Citation 550 seized at Owen Roberts International Airport in a 2019 investigation into the movement of gold through Cayman was still parked there on 2 September 2026, and the airport's published tariff would price its stay at about CI$26,900.

Asked by The Caymanian Journal (TCJ) on 2 September 2026 whether it seeks or receives parking revenue for aircraft left on its apron long term, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) said in writing on 4 September 2026 that it "does not comment on the ownership, legal status or individual circumstances associated with privately owned aircraft, including specific aircraft parked at its facilities".

The Venezuelan-registered jet, tail number YV2317, was detained as a result of a joint investigation by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) and Customs and Border Control (CBC). In a release dated 6 June 2019, RCIPS said that "a small private plane along with a large quantity of cash has been seized in Cayman", and in a statement dated 23 July 2019 it said that "four Venezuelan nationals were arrested and the plane was seized and impounded". Neither release named the aircraft; TCJ has confirmed the registration independently.

What the published tariff says

CIAA's parking charges are set out in section GEN 4.1 of the Cayman Islands Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). For an aircraft weighing more than 10,000 lb and not more than 30,000 lb, the charge at Owen Roberts is CI$10 per 24 hours, after a first free hour. The rate appears on the current page, dated 8 October 2020, and its predecessor, dated 8 December 2016. The aircraft is a 1979-built Citation II, serial number 550-0112, with a maximum take-off weight of 13,300 lb, so the CI$10 band applies and no reduced long-stay rate is published for it; the AIP's CI$75 per 30 days option covers only aircraft not exceeding 10,000 lb.

A Grand Court judgment of 3 June 2024 records that the aircraft arrived on 30 May 2019 and that its pilot was arrested on 4 June 2019; RCIPS said the seizure took place "over the past weekend" before 6 June. From 1 June 2019 to 9 October 2026 is 2,687 days, which at CI$10 per day is CI$26,870; from the day of arrival it is CI$26,890.

The owner and user are "jointly and severally responsible" for payment, CIAA invoices monthly, overdue sums carry interest of 1.25% per month, and the AIP's aerodrome section gives CIAA "a lien on the aircraft, its parts and accessories" for unpaid fees.

The airport's position

CIAA said it "is aware that privately owned aircraft may remain parked at the airport for extended periods for a variety of reasons" and that it "manages aircraft parking in accordance with operational, safety and security requirements and works with the relevant authorities where necessary". As operator rather than detaining agency, it treats an aircraft's status as a matter for the agency holding it. Its circular 13/26 of 9 September 2026 revises air navigation fees from 1 December 2026 but leaves parking charges unchanged.

What happened to the case

The criminal cases ended in acquittals: according to Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale's Grand Court judgment of 3 June 2024 in Cause G 246 of 2023, the pilot was acquitted of money laundering after a Grand Court trial on 20 March 2020 and of the remaining charges in the Summary Court on 8 September 2020. In June 2024 CBC advertised a notice of seizure inviting any person claiming ownership of the aircraft to come forward, as the Cayman Compass reported on 8 July 2025, publishing an image of the notice.

TCJ emailed CIAA on 2 Septem ber 2026 and received its response on 4 September 2026.