Three “frequent flying” Canadian women nabbed with 18Ks of cocaine

SANTO DOMINGO. – The National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) today arrested three Canadian women who tried to leave the country with 18 kilos of what appears to be cocaine in 1,382 capsules adhered to their body and prior to boarding a flight to Toronto at Punta Cana International Airport.

DNCD spokesman Lebrón Roberto said also arrested were several Dominicans in the community of Verón, eastern Higüey, suspected of being the contact to acquire the drug.

He said the Canadians Daniela Maria Pea Ruggiero and Carla Lopes, both 29, and Violet Teresa Pluas, 38, had 489, 455 and 438 capsules taped to their bodies, and had traveled to the country several times just this year.

Frequent trips

"The actions of those citizens were being watched for some time, taking into account the frequency in which they came to Dominican Republic as alleged tourists. The same was done with several Dominicans, mostly women, and in fact the evidence shows that it’s a narco-trafficking network," Lebron said.