El Nacional reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States is pressing for the Dominican authorities to expand investigations into the drug haul of 625 kilos flown in on a small airplane to the La Romana International Airport. El Nacional reports the DEA has pointed out that there may be more persons involved of higher hierarchy than those signaled by the authorities and that there are many details of the investigation must come to light before the case is closed.
The DEA says that neither the air traffic controllers, nor ramp personnel have been questioned. Also, the authorities have not revealed the name of the superior officer who ordered the shutdown of the airport surveillance system.
The El Nacional source says that the DEA is requesting more information on the whereabouts of the US$500,000 (RD$24 million pesos) supposedly confiscated, and who exactly were to receive these funds. The DEA stressed that the investigation should be thorough and that all leads be followed up on in a timely manner.
The 625 kilos were flown in on HK4909G from Cartagena, Colombia on the evening of 24 October 2017. Some 23 bales of cocaine, with 25 packages each were unloaded. Military and employees at the airport have said bribes for RD$24 million were distributed.
Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez ordered Juan Amado Cedano, in charge of the Public Ministry prosecution service, to investigate. As outcome of the case, the Ministry of Defense ordered the removal of Colonel Domingo Figuereo Heredia of the Air Force and colonel Roberto Antonio Ramirez Pimentel of the Army. The first was director of airport security at the La Romana International Airport, and the second was director of the National Drug Controls Agency at the airport.
What is known is that the 625 kilos were shipped abroad on two airplanes to Europe and the United States in complicity with security staff at the La Romana Airport, including the two colonels and first lieutenant of the Police Andres Lorenzo Castillo Padilla and military recruit Emmanuel Cruz Espinal.
Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Ruben Dario Paulino Sem, the president of the DNCD, Vice Admiral Edmundo Felix Pimentel, director of the Police, Major General Ney Bautista Almonte, and the director of Airport Security Corps (CESAC), General Aracenis Castillo de la Cruz have said the investigation is still open and the case will be resolved and there will not be loose ends.
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El Nacional
19 December 2017
