The Customs Agency (DGA) announced the impounding of a Panamanian flag tanker, the Rayo McQueen, that had allegedly attempted to smuggle 109,100 gallons of diesel into the Dominican Republic through the northwestern port of Manzanillo in Montecristi province. The ship was detained together with crew by authorities of the DGA and the Dominican Armada. The ship documents indicating it was traveling without cargo. The DGA had received notice from intelligence organizations that suspected irregularities in the operation of the ship.
The detention of the ship occurred on 23 December 2017, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, the Dominican Armada, the Customs Agency, Public Ministry, and the Port of Manzanillo.
For being in possession of the contraband, two Honduran citizens, the ship’s captain, Heri Omar Erazo and a crewmember, Joel William Cooper, were taken into custody by local authorities. The two men were allowed to post bail for RD$15,000.
While in custody, the DGA says that the captain changed his story and requested permission to declare the cargo. However, the two companies that allegedly consigned the shipment were not authorized to import fuel into the Dominican Republic.
Furthermore, the DGA inspected the ship and determined that the vessel does not meet international regulations for the cargo established by the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP), International Convention for the Protection of Marine Pollution from Ships or the International Maritime Organization (MARPOL convention).
The Rayo McQueen was ordered to be taken to the Sans Souci Naval Base for inspection on 6 January 2018, and by 10 January, the discharging of the fuel was completed.
On 31 December 2017, a similar inspection of a tanker traveling the north coast waters revealed a cargo of 1,500 kg of cocaine.
15 January 2018
