Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Government signed an air interdiction agreement with its Colombia par to fight drug trafficking jointly in the so-called Caribbean Corridor

Dominican Air Force (FAD) chief Carlos Altuna Tezanos said it’s an historical and fundamental step not only for both countries, but also for the entire the region’s security.

He said Colombia Air Force Chief of operations Tito Saúl Pinilla will visit the country soon, to “sharpen” the details in the agreement and discuss other measures in the joint efforts in the war on drug trafficking.

Altuna said the agreement was signed during his visit to Colombia in the start of July, to meet with his par Jorge Ballestero Rodriguez, who signed the pact. “They’ll provide their technological platform of radars and the Super Tucano airplanes to fight any common threat.”

He said though the country has the capacity to intercept airplanes, there are several procedures of international law prior to shooting them down.” There’s a procedure, the last step is downing. We make all efforts to intercept and make the aircraft land safely. The decision to down it or not isn’t the pilot’s, but instead goes to another echelon.”