For many years now, DR1 News has covered the dozens of fatal boat trips to Puerto Rico. Over a hundred persons, men, women, and children have died in these attempts to get to the neighboring island. The small, home-built, open craft, powered by outboard motors are generally considered to be death traps on the open seas.
Finally, at least one of the organizers of one of these fatal excursions has been brought to justice. Luis Alberto Vigniero Mejia, the man who was the organizer of an illegal trip of a small boat that capsized just off the East Coast near Lavacama in 2020, killing eight persons, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, a fine of RD$250,000, and payment of RD$2,000,000 in compensation by the La Altagracia province court.
Known as “the Indio,” Vigniero Mejia was convicted of human trafficking, and the government attorneys showed how he had organized and prepared the trip that left Nisibon beach in the dawn hours of December 2020 before capsizing with the loss of eight lives.
Vigniero Mejia apparently was part of an organized criminal enterprise that charged between US$4000 and US$5000 per person for the illegal voyage.
The government case was prepared by a special prosecutor dedicated to illegal human trafficking, the district attorney of the court in Higuey, and officers from the Dominican Navy.
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Listin Diario
5 November 2024