Residents of El Higuero, part of north Santo Domingo, stopped two large tractor-trailers loaded with palm trees that had been illegally taken from a nearby forest. No official authorization was shown to demonstrate that there was anything remotely legal in the uprooting of the palm trees. The neighbors said that they had been watching the goings on for three days, and said that they were surprised at the fact that they were told that the trees were to be replanted as part of a public works project. The person who supposedly had paid for the palm trees was present, and although he was identified as being in charge of the deal, he denied this to Listin Diario reporters. No Ministry of the Environment permit was presented during the events that led to the arrest of the drivers and the alleged buyers and the confiscation of the trucks loaded with the 20 precious trees. Alejandro Perez, the administrator of the Los Tablones Recreational Club, managed to get some local police to halt the trucks until the Environmental Police showed up to arrest and confiscate the trees. They had to wait for four hours before these agents appeared. According to Perez, more than 50 palm trees have been removed from the area. In its Sunday edition, Listin Diario revealed that the palm trees were going to be replanted in the new sports complex in Monte Plata where the National Games are due to be held this week. Palm trees are big business with mature trees selling for RD$25,000 apiece.