Anybody who has spent any time in the DR, has seen this same bizarre investigation scenario play out many times. Foreigners held for extended periods while the investigation plods on due to incompetence, corruption, and politics.
Under the previous and current administrations, corrupt high ranking politicians are set free after lengthy investigations, even though the evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of prosecution. Why would anyone expect the same system to favour foreigners placed into a legally compromising position by drug pushers working in collusion with airport staff, and probably police officials? How Abinader could say to Trudeau that the rule of law is followed in the DR with a straight face is beyond my comprehension.
It’s basically a waiting game at this point. As I previously posted the aircraft and crew will be released once enough money changes hands. As far as I know, they are still in an apartment complex protected by private security paid for by Pivot Airlines. Free of the horrendous conditions and threats they faced in prison.
if anything, this incident is indicative of the depth of the drug problem in DR everyday life. It permeates all levels of DR society, police, lawyers, government officials. The current government’s primary focus is on tourism while ignoring the drug problem. They feed the masses pictures of drug busts to create the impression they are serious about enforcement but we know they are only stopping a small percentage of the traffic.
