DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Vice Admiral José M. Cabrera, Ambassador Leah F. Campos and Richard Cernuda, new interim head at the DEA / El Caribe

Special agent Richard Cernuda was officially presented last Friday, 13 March 2026 as the new interim head at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office at the United States Embassy. As reported, the new interim leadership team now operates under new strictly audited internal protocols.

The DEA office had been closed as of last February due to a corruption scandal that involved the then-head of the office, Meliton Cordero, who is on trial in a Miami court on charges of corruption. Cordero had been the first Dominican to occupy the position. The Dominican government would revoke the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella awarded to Cordero by President Abinader in late 2024.

US Ambassador Leah F...