The alleged organizer of illegal boat trips to Puerto Rico, a native of Hato Mayor, was arrested late last week as he tried to leave the country by way of Punta Cana. He is accused of organizing an illegal boat trip that ended in the confirmed death of three persons and others are still unaccounted for, even two years later. Two teenaged sisters and a young man perished in the accident, and others are still missing.
Hector Julio Rosario Diaz (Chogula) allegedly organized the illegal trip in an open, home-built boat to Puerto Rico in February 2017. The boat capsized off the coast of Miches with 17 persons on board. Rosario Diaz was arrested after immigration inspectors noted him acting suspiciously. He had been a fugitive from justice for nearly two years.
The arrest was carried out by members of the Dominican armada, together with personnel from the Migration Agency and the office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Trafficking. Rosario Díaz was headed to Bogotá, Colombia.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
11 March 2019