The circle is tightening around anyone with any connection to accused drug baron Quirino Paulino Castillo, alias The Don. In spite of the grim predictions from United States ambassador Hans Hertell, who asked for more discretion in releasing the names of the people wanted for extradition by the United States, several more arrests have been made peacefully. Hertell was worried that publishing the names would result in the wanted people going underground. Nonetheless, the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) announced the arrests of Arismendy Taveras Peralta (El Gringo) in the Villa Juana sector and Carlos Villavizar on the Romulo Betancourt Avenue in Santo Domingo. Although ambassador Hertell expressed concern that some of the people wanted for extradition might put up a fight and harm the agents sent to bring them in, this has not happened so far. For example, Villavizar was arrested as he drove down the avenue in his Mercedes Benz. The vehicle used to belong to former Agriculture Minister Eligio Jaquez. Also in Santo Domingo, DNCD agents picked up a Puerto Rican national, Rene Valdez Ramos Colon, who is on the list of requested persons. According to the El Nacional, two others were arrested in Moca and in Santo Domingo. One person turned himself in to the authorities. Jose Abel Burdiez de Leon was arrested in Moca and Ramon Perez Ferreras was arrested on John F. Kennedy Avenue at the intersection with Nunez de Caceres. On Friday afternoon, Richard Mejia turned himself in to the DNCD office, accompanied by his lawyer. So far, seven out of the 14 on the list have been placed in custody, awaiting extradition hearings.