The military contingents based at Punta Cana and Las Americas airports were removed by the Ministry of the Armed Forces after the filing of complaints of extortion and bribery by passengers. The removal of personnel includes everyone from the lowest recruit to the highest official based in Punta Cana. The order also includes the members of the tourism police force (Politur), the National Police (PN) and other security forces. Armed Forces Minister Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez signed the order at the request of AERODOM, the consortium that runs the Punta Cana and Las Americas terminals. General Rafael Ramirez Ferreiras, the chief of the military intelligence services, carried out the directive at the Las Americas Airport. He first talked to Carlos Cota Lama, the government liaison at the airport who had warned of the extortionists and bribers. Customs Department Director Manuel Cocco had also requested the removal of the military presence at the airports. Most of the complaints centered around military personnel who had extorted dollars from passengers in exchange for swift passage through the Customs area.