Article in today's NY Post.
DOMINICAN 'DRUGLORD' EXTRADITED TO N.Y.
By STEFANIE COHEN
July 18, 2007 -- The violent head of an international drug-trafficking ring was extradited from the Dominican Republic and brought to Brooklyn federal court, where he faces a slew of conspiracy charges, authorities said yesterday.
Jos? Ramon Hinojosa Santos pleaded not guilty and was held without bail at his arraignment Monday. According to court documents, Santos is the head of a massive drug ring headquartered in the Dominican Republic that uses young women as mules to ship huge amounts of heroin and cocaine to the United States, Canada and Europe.
The extradition came after a four-year investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency dubbed "Mulas Tristes" (Sad Mules) because when the couriers were arrested, they were petrified of Hinojosa Santos.
The alleged kingpin recruited friends and relatives who would travel in groups and appear as families on vacation.
He also made sure to pick women whose families he knew so he could threaten them if the mules betrayed him, said a source.
The women usually hid the drugs in clothing within their luggage, according to court papers.
"He had Dominican policemen serving as his bodyguards and appeared to have a lot of government connections," said the source, adding that the women feared for their lives and their families when they were picked up.
. The feds say Hinojosa Santos was responsible for sending more than 50 kilograms of heroin into the United States and more than 100 kilos of cocaine into Western Europe between 2004 and 2006
DOMINICAN 'DRUGLORD' EXTRADITED TO N.Y.
By STEFANIE COHEN
July 18, 2007 -- The violent head of an international drug-trafficking ring was extradited from the Dominican Republic and brought to Brooklyn federal court, where he faces a slew of conspiracy charges, authorities said yesterday.
Jos? Ramon Hinojosa Santos pleaded not guilty and was held without bail at his arraignment Monday. According to court documents, Santos is the head of a massive drug ring headquartered in the Dominican Republic that uses young women as mules to ship huge amounts of heroin and cocaine to the United States, Canada and Europe.
The extradition came after a four-year investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency dubbed "Mulas Tristes" (Sad Mules) because when the couriers were arrested, they were petrified of Hinojosa Santos.
The alleged kingpin recruited friends and relatives who would travel in groups and appear as families on vacation.
He also made sure to pick women whose families he knew so he could threaten them if the mules betrayed him, said a source.
The women usually hid the drugs in clothing within their luggage, according to court papers.
"He had Dominican policemen serving as his bodyguards and appeared to have a lot of government connections," said the source, adding that the women feared for their lives and their families when they were picked up.
. The feds say Hinojosa Santos was responsible for sending more than 50 kilograms of heroin into the United States and more than 100 kilos of cocaine into Western Europe between 2004 and 2006
