2021News

Top Caribbean DEA official visits as Operation Falcon unfolds

John F. Kanig, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Caribbean Field Division, visited as part of collaboration with Dominican drug control authorities. The DEA is working closely in the cocaine trafficking and money laundering investigation – Operation Falcon. Kanig is the regional director for the US drug control agency.

Last Wednesday, 8 September 2021, more than 80 raids were carried out in coordination with local crime prosecution agents and the DEA to disarticulate the criminal network that moved thousands of kilos of cocaine from Colombia to the Dominican Republic. From here, the narcotics were shipped to Puerto Rico, the United States and Europe.

As reported, on 15 September 2021, Kanig and other agents met with the president of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) Vice Admiral Jose Cabrera Ulloa to discuss international cooperation and reinforcing actions to prosecute and punish drug trafficking, money laundering and related crimes. As reported, Special Agent Greg Garza, in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Puerto Rico participated in the meeting with the DEA attachés in the DR, Special Agents Daniels and Reed also in attendance.

In the Operation Falcon, the head of the drug trafficking network, Erick Randhiel Mosquea Polanco (Rodolfo Beltrán, El Sony 7, El Chiquito, El Hombre or Chite) is fugitive of justice. Also on the run are his siblings Harington José Mosquea Núñez and Claritza Andreina Mosquea Eduardo.

There are also orders of arrest out for Alberto De Jesús Polanco (El Prieto and / or Many), partner and frontman of the drug trafficker.

The DEA has issued a statement indicating that anyone who obstructs or prevents the apprehension of those involved in the Falcón case risks being prosecuted for complicity in the United States for helping a defendant evade justice or for inciting him to do so. The DEA indicates that the United States justice system establishes that a criminal charge of “complicity” can be brought against any person who helps in the commission of a crime or who, upon learning about it, before or after its consummation, helps the accused through counseling , shares or financial support.

Depending on the degree of involvement, the indictment can rise to the level of conspiracy. In this context, they explained that to be prosecuted for complicity, the United States judicial system only requires proving that the accused knew that a person had committed a crime or that he / she helped with its consummation or in the specific design of hindering or preventing the apprehension, trial or the punishment of a person persecuted or under prosecution.

Investigations by the Public Ministry reveal that Erick Randhiel Mosquea Polanco became “a powerful and feared international drug trafficker” who, together with his operational axes within the organization, moved thousands of kilos of cocaine from Colombia, through the Dominican Republic , to Puerto Rico, the United States and Europe.

So far, around 130 vehicles, including three armored vehicles, a small and a large boat, around US$4.9 million dollars and more than RD$22.7 million, expensive luxury watches, dozens of properties, seven fuel stations and several farms, have been seized from the suspect traffickers and money launderers. There are around 23 persons under arrest.

The arraignments begin on Friday, 17 September in a first level court in Santiago.

Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre

17 September 2021