Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito says that his office received a formal request on Tuesday for the extradition of former army captain Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, better known simply as Quirino, to the United States. He said yesterday that he is preparing the case that is to be sent to the Supreme Court of Justice. The case is due to be heard in a New York City court.
In a press conference yesterday, Dominguez Brito said that his office supports the extradition. He clarified that the extradition will not mean the suspension of the current investigations in the DR against Quirino or others involved in the case.
The Supreme Court of Justice still needs to authorize the extradition, however. Paulino was arrested on 18 December in Santo Domingo, shortly after narcotics agents confiscated 1,387 kilos of cocaine valued at RD$900 million. As reported in the Listin Diario, the authorities are accusing Quirino of being the cargo’s owner. Quirino is being held at the National Drug Control Department (DNCD).
Listin Diario political analyst Orlando Gil comments today on the possible parallels between the Quirino Paulino case and the recent case of the Rodriguez Orejuela brothers from Colombia who have announced they will provide names of politicians, judges, politicians, military and religious authorities that benefited from their money in exchange for reduced sentences. “Given the possibility that Quirino Paulino Castillo could be extradited, and the US authorities could treat the two cases alike, would there be panic in the Dominican political world? The Americans are interested in the foreign liaisons, the routes and the laundering, but could also ask bonus questions about local politicians… ”