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LONDON — A French tycoon has to his horror discovered his private jet was being used to smuggle $60-million worth of cocaine from the Caribbean.

Alain Afflelou, who owns Europe’s largest chain of optician franchises, was not on the plane at the time and was said to be “stunned” by the discovery.

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The Falcon 50 had been leased to the Lyon, France-based Transhelicopter Services and was due to fly from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to Yvelines airport near Paris, via the Azores.

“Alain Afflelou learnt the news through the press, and is stunned,” said Isabelle Amaraggi, his communications director.

“This plane and another smaller one managed by this company were used by Alain Afflelou and his colleagues in their line of work.

“When it’s not being used, we rent it out and so we have no idea who these people are who hired our plane. Our lawyers are trying to find out.”

The 12-seater aircraft was detained a week ago when 26 suitcases containing 700 kilograms of cocaine were discovered at Punta Cana airport.