Officials from the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) shut down the Halloween party scheduled to take place at the old Herrera city airport in (just off of Luperón Avenue) on the same night of the party on Saturday, 2 November 2019. Party promoter, entrepreneur Miguel Guzman was arrested on allegations that the party was to be a platform for the sale of MDMA (“ecstasy”) and other prohibited drugs. He was released the next day.
According to the DNCD spokesperson, Josefina Capellan, as reported in the Diario Libre and other media, officers from the DNCD infiltrated the party early on, and found that security personnel were carrying drugs for sale.
It was alleged that the party was shut down on charges that behind the party was a devil cult. Capellan of the DNCD said quite clearly that the Constitution protects freedom of worship. She said the DNCD intervened because of reports that illicit drugs were for sale at the party.
As reported, as soon as the police arrived, the head of security for the event tried to get away, discarding little bags of what were suspected to be drugs, but was apprehended by officials.
Miguel Guzman, the event organizer, told reporters that the intervention by the police and the halting of the party “destroyed my career.” He said that he had put his savings, some RD$8,000,000, into the event. Different vendors, who had paid between RD$25,000 and RD$80,000 to set up tents and food trucks and such, did not want to talk to the press. People attending the event, who had paid RD$500 for their tickets, were left wondering if there was any chance to get a refund.
Taking part in the shutdown operation was Olga Dina Llaverias, the prosecutor for the province of Santo Domingo, agents from the Police, the DNCD and the Ministry of the Interior and Police.
On Sunday, 3 November, a judge of the Permanent Attention Office of Santo Domingo West allowed event security Roberto Ventura Martínez to post bail of RD$3,000 and periodic presentation. He is accused of being in possession of two portions of marihuana at the concert.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
5 November 2019