The Senate-Chamber of Deputies commission began the study of a bill that would facilitate the extradition of Dominicans and foreigners that have committed drug trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping, terrorism, sexual crimes against minors, violent robbery, money falsification, and trafficking with historic and archeological objects. Darío Gómez Martínez (PRD-Santiago Rodríguez) submitted the bill that would modify Law 489 of 22 October 1969 on extradition. The bill would give the Executive Branch the ability to extradite Dominicans, but these would not be subject to the death penalty. Recently, General Barry McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a division of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, during a 24-hour visit to the country met with congressmen and urged them to pass legislation that would permit more in depth and energetic actions against drug traffickers on behalf of repressive organizations. During his visit, McCaffrey said that the war against drugs will be won by legislators, not by the military. The U.S. government seeks the extradition of several known Dominican drug traffickers and money launderers that have returned to the DR.
