A judge in La Romana, Aristida Mercedes, has unconditionally freed five Venezuelans who were arrested at La Romana International Airport on Thursday, 24 March 2016 with a consignment of 359 kg of cocaine.
The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) is now questioning the decision. The DNCD criticized the ruling, describing it as unfortunate and saying that it would encourage international drug networks to use the country as a bridge for selling drugs to the USA and Europe. “We do not understand how five people who were arrested after being caught red-handed with a shipment of more than 359 kilograms could have been released by the alternate judge of the Office of Permanent Attention in La Romana, an act that aside from encouraging drug trafficking, affects the image of the Dominican judiciary,” stated the DNCD.
Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito has also expressed his concern about the judge’s order, the latest in a series of rulings by the judiciary that benefit accused drug dealers, and that have undermined the credibility of the Dominican courts. Nevertheless, the judiciary has been slow in exercising better controls and removing questionable judges.
The accused were 55-year old Carlos Justiniano, 44-year old Jorge Henriquez, 23-year old Gregory Frias, 38-year old Gerardo Diaz and 35-year old Jean Carlos Diaz.
The plane was a Cessna model C404, registration YV2708. It flew in from Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/03/28/procurador-califica-como-ldquoaltamente-alarmanterdquo-libertad-venezolanos
http://www.dncd.gob.do/dncd-con-apoyo-del-dni-decomisa-349-paquetes-de-droga-y-aeronave-apresa-cinco-venezolanos/
http://www.dncd.gob.do/dncd-muestra-indignacion-luego-que-se-le-otorgara-en-la-romana-libertad-pura-y-simple-a-venezolanos-apresados-con-359-kilos-de-cocaina/
http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/156634-Busted-with-359kg-cocaine-Thursday-freed-Sunday/page2
