District Attorney Jose Manuel Hernandez Peguero has warned that he will request the extradition of former colonel Pedro Julio “Pepe” Goico Guerrero, so that he may explain his dealings as security assistant to former president Hipolito Mejia, with Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, whom he allegedly protected. Paulino Castillo was extradited to the US to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges, after the seizure of 1,387 kilos of cocaine in Santo Domingo last December. Hernandez understands that Pepe Goico must explain his involvement in the Quirino case, his contractual relations with Quirino, and the money he received in cash from the alleged drug trafficker. The DA’s office will resort to all mechanisms established by the law and the extradition treaty with Spain, sustained Hernandez Peguero.
Goico recently defended his use of a credit card issued by the collapsed BanInter bank, which had been issued for the former President’s expenses, in a TV interview with Alicia Ortega. During the interview, he said he regretted not having purchased the Caribbean Sea and the Eiffel Tower with the card. He made his remarks from Spain where he is supposedly undergoing military training. He said that when he left the DR it was through Las Americas International Airport, without any problems, as he did not have any exit restrictions.
During the first part of an interview by TV journalist Alicia Ortega aired on Antena Latina, Channel 7, the army officer said that he had nothing pending with justice and that he could justify the money he owns to the last penny. Goico also referred to the infamous Colibri helicopter related to the case involving Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, whom he claims not to know. Paulino Castillo was extradited to the US where he is awaiting trial on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
Pepe Goico’s name also came up in the June televised case of lawyer Marino Vinicio (Vincho) Castillo case vs. former presidential supervisor of Public Works, Hernani Salazar. The case received widespread press coverage for matters such as the revelation that a helicopter belonging to Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, accused of being one of the biggest drug smugglers in the Caribbean, was parked alongside the presidential helicopter at the San Isidro Air Base for over a year; for the revelation that a US$600,000 check for the last payment of the helicopter that was later sold to today arrested drug smuggler Quirino Paulino Castillo was delivered at the First Brigade of the Army military command by former presidential security advisor Pepe Goico, among other issues.