Agents on board a National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) helicopter suffered the scare of having to repel bullets shot by drug traffickers at Playa Punta Arena in Juancho, Pedernales on Wednesday, 4 September. The helicopter was equipped with night vision systems. The DNCD agents were in the area at dawn to halt an operation of an estimated 600 kilos of cocaine that had arrived by speedboat from South America. 446 packages of cocaine were recovered. The drugs were confiscated by DNCD agents in a joint operation with Army J-2 and G-2 Navy agents. Drug traffickers fired at the helicopter for several minutes after they were detected. As reported, three suspected traffickers, identified as 22-year old Samuel Perez Samboy, 21-year old Luis Turbi and 21-year old Gregorio Terrero were injured.
The helicopter team had to be assisted by land DNCD forces and members of the Army under the Fifth Brigade. The operation was being directed by DNCD chief General Julio Cesar Souffront Velazquez, who was on board the helicopter. It took place in coordination with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and US Coast Guard.
The area were the confrontation took place is known as Buncan Planzo in Oviedo, a beach with many coral reefs and water springs that is used as a meeting point for ships that enter with drug shipments, as reported.
El Dia reports that the speedboat apparently crashed into rocks on the beach and dropped part of its cargo into the sea. The shipment reached the shore. Reportedly, the part of the shipment that was not seized by the DNCD was recovered by people who are known to frequent the area at night.
As reported in El Dia, several days ago the DNCD found an abandoned boat suspected of successfully importing a large undetected drug shipment. After the discovery, the staff on duty in the area was changed and intelligence work was stepped up, which led to the detection of the new shipment.
www.hoy.com.do/provincias/2013/9/5/497154/Un-muerto-y-siete-heridos-en-operativo-de-la-DNCD-en-Pedernales-ocupan
http://www.eldia.com.do/nacionales/2013/9/6/123888/DNCD-ocupa-446-paquetes-de-cocaina