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Major Frederick Medina Abud. Photo elnuevodiario.com.do
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SANTO DOMINGO. - In a joint operation the National Drugs Control Agency, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) seized three speedboats suspected of being used for drug trafficking, in a farm owned by businessman Luis de Jesus Lara Martinez, identified as the person who allowed the group to enter, kidnap and execute seven Colombians in Paya, Baní.

At the farm near Cruce de Ocoa in the south coast, a Colombian was arrested who is suspected of being part of the group of narcotics traffickers who conducted the massacre and which took from the victims more than 1,200 kilos of cocaine, brought to the country on a boat that was damaged near Villena beach.

Investigatators try to determine whether the farm is owned by Lara Martinez, or his father Luis Lara Andújar, proprietor of the Cruce de Ocoa truck stop plaza. In Ocoa Bay and several areas in the East small planes frequently drop drugs on the beaches, that are later gathered and taken ashore by speedboats.

The DEA and the FBI joined the investigacione due to the crime’s magnitude and because it’s believed the case involves one  the most powerful drug cartels in the Caribbean region.

It’s believed that the boats seized yesterday were used to bring the drug to Dominican territory and taken later to the residence of the victims killed between the night of July 4 and the morning of July 5. The boats with powerful outboard motors, but it wasn’t determined if they were used to gather drugs on the high seas.

Five people are being held in Najayo prison in the case so far: the Dominican Augusto Alberto Daneris Andújar, Luis de Jesus Lara Martinez (Churro), Girson Antonio González Maríñez, the ex Police major Frederick Guillermo Medina Abud, and the Colombian Alejandro Restrepo Carmona, the latter two identified as taking part in the execution of the seven Colombians.

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COMMENTS
13 comment(s)
Written by: josean, 5 Sep 2008 8:05 AM
From: United States
The tip of the icberg! Don't worry my countrymen/women "Edward John Smith" alias, Lie-onel Fernadez, is at the Helm.
Written by: JD_Dominguez, 5 Sep 2008 8:18 AM
From: United States, Reality Check
Yes, it is the tip of the iceberg but follow-the-trial all the way to the National Palace! I visited my barrio in Santiago of Ensanche Caonabo (near the Cibao Stadium & Children's Hospital) and the Tigres are "extremely busy with an over-abundant supply of drugs. The main Tigre "CHOPPO" who is a known convicted drug criminal aka Jose Annibal Lopez Pichardo has been supplied by his businemen/drug dealer brother of the Pichardo family by the street name of 'CHINO'. When these guys are busy the mother who is a senior citizens actually makes drug payment collections at her front door for her sons. This house is arriba (up the hill) on Calle A TRANSVERSAL in Ensache Caonabo barrio.

Of course, DNCD Norte know all this because I was there when community leaders told them every year for the past several years. So, why is this house not watched and a BIG drug bust made? Because DNCD & Santiago police are corrupt & get $$ to look the other way while drugs are sold on school routes!
Written by: juanb, 5 Sep 2008 8:46 AM
From: Dominican Republic
What we see happening in Bani is an example of what caring, well paid, police can do.
Written by: bernies, 5 Sep 2008 9:17 AM
From: United States, key west fl
it took them to long don't you guys think?
Written by: JimHarrington This user is banned, 5 Sep 2008 9:52 AM
From: United States
Where are the drugs that are involved in this case??????
Written by: Belial, 5 Sep 2008 9:54 AM
From: United States, Texas
DEA-FBI comes in publicly to make sure they get their cut if the 1300K is found or if the Colombians buy back the stuff taken from them.

Meanwhile, the DEA-FBI will grab everything not nailed down that the DR authorities haven't taken from the friends, relatives, associates, lawyers, accountants who either knew or had a drink with the deceased.
Written by: gouletcolonial This user is banned, 5 Sep 2008 10:15 AM
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
The DEA is less corruptible than underpaid locals so maybe we will be able to get a little closure
Written by: JD_Dominguez, 5 Sep 2008 10:58 AM
From: United States, Reality Check
I've already told you where the drugs are. Most drugs have already been pushed thru the pipeline network!

Where are the headlines stating: "Big drugs bust & ALL drugs confiscated"???
Please don't hold your breath waiting for this.

While semi-honest RD officials were trying to figure out all the Bani players vs. victims vs. traitors...the drugs were being re-sold, moved & re-distributed to micro-traffickers who will break up the drugs into smaller quantities & put in the hands of street retailers as noted above. All the DNCD & police have to do is drag their feet a little (which they did).

If the DEA-FBI wanted to come to my barrio noted above to see wholesale amounts of drugs being moved then they could do so. BUT WHEN THEY LET LOCAL DNCD-NORTE OFFICALS KNOW ....THEN THE TIGRES WILL GET A CONFIDENTIAL PHONE CALL WARNING THEM FROM A LOCAL RD LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

We know how the RD works...the clueless are DEA-FBI & Fannin's officlals in plush offices with A/C.
Written by: josean, 6 Sep 2008 6:34 AM
From: United States
Vincho Castillo must be very nervous!
Written by: gmiller261, 6 Sep 2008 8:39 AM
From: United States

Thanks God ! Bring in our boys, they are the ONLY ones that can get this done.

Dominican's 'macho' hubris third grade education is useless.
Written by: RPICHARDO, 6 Sep 2008 9:53 AM
From: Dominican Republic
The DR just became the Mexican and Colombian's cartels new bullet testing backyard...

Written by: richardalberto, 6 Sep 2008 11:32 AM
From: United States
I wonder who has brought the DEA into the picture. Lionel? Guerrero? Or do they have jurisdiction in DR?

The amount of drugs missing is as much as Paulino's case. They have to seize assets and close companies that are involved apply the RICO laws in DR. The longer it takes to move that load overseas the more riskier it becomes that it will be found. It is not easy by a long shot to move that amount of weight and if a portion get picked up by the Feds the easier it becomes to trace it back to the mother load.

The more are implicated the more likely one is going to talk and moving the weight around is always a risk. Keep the heat on until someone cracks.
Written by: ArsenioALembertJr, 6 Sep 2008 11:00 PM
From: Spain, Ibiza, Minorca, Mallorca
Drug Smugglers are having a ball in DR. Here it seems that practically everyone will accept an $100 bill to either look the other way, or to keep their mouth shut.
It's getting harder by the minute to find honest people, who will not succumb to the allure of "easy money". I know there are still many in DR; Yet, in Colombia: Forget about it! corruption is rampant, everyone wants a cut. And the saddest part about this is that not only are drugs smuggled to other countries, but, also the corruption that accompanies this lethal trade.

The only way that this large scale business can thrive is with the complicity of governments, and authorities. If it were not so, there wouldn't be some much money being reaped from it! It's colossal, it's humongous. "Billions served"; Just like McDonald's.

The Drug Trade is state sponsored. There is no other explanation for its influence, and tenacity.
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