A “mafia” dedicated to falsifying property titles, as well as signatures of officials, title registrars and owners of real estate such as apartments, houses, improvements, and urban lands with tourist and agricultural vocation, valued at hundreds of millions of pesos, is currently under investigation, according to Diario Libre. Affected are owners of real estate in Arroyo Hondo, Las Praderas, Bella Vista, Mirador Sur and central areas of Santo Domingo. The situation is hindering large-scale investment projects and has caused expenses in the millions. Also affected are lands in the Higuey tourist zone where one case is affecting property worth US$150 million. Also under investigation are lands in the Bahia de las Aguilas area which has been the subject of a conflict since 1997 when the Attorney General’s Department indicted several officials and businessmen linked to a network dedicated to selling and buying lands within the protected area at ridiculously low prices.