The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) has announced that the drugs seized in a cave in the National Park of the East near Boca de Yuma, Higuey on Saturday, 17 August, consisted of 327 kilos of pure cocaine.
The DNCD said that the cocaine was part of a shipment that came into the country by speedboat from South America to Saona Island, before being taken to the mainland on two small boats. The boat captains are on the run.
On Thursday, 15 August, 343 packets of drugs were confiscated in the same area, and according to the authorities they belong to the same gang.
Several people have been arrested in connection with the case, accused of drug trafficking: Alberto de los Santos Rodriguez, Ayiro Israel Tavares Berroa, who was deported from the US in 2010, after serving a prison sentence for drug dealing, Luis Francisco Silverio Berroa, Jose Sanchez, Felix Antonio Inoa Dominguez, Viterbo Jimenez Flores, Ernesto Garcia and Manuel Emilio Cedeno Cedeno, thought to be the gang leader.
In addition, the two captains on the run, Julio Belarminio Vilorio Castillo and Isidro Aristy, had both been arrested for drug dealing offences in the past.
www.eldia.com.do/nacionales/2013/8/19/122298/Deportado-de-EEUU-implicado-en-caso-659-kilos-de-cocaina
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2013/8/19/288875/Es-cocaina-pura-y-peso-327-kilos-la-droga-incautada-el-sabado-en-una-cueva