Anti-laundering chief opposes returning criminals’ assets

Santo Domingo.- Justice Ministry Anti-Money Laundering Unit director Daniel Miranda today said it’s a weakness in the policy the fact that drug traffickers convicted in the US, can enjoy the seized properties when they return.

He said he prefers to identify the assets before apprehending a criminal, to assign them to the requesting country after conviction, where the Dominican authorities can also start prosecution in the country.

Miranda called the current loophole a disease which has been detected and needs to be cured, the put an end to what says is a mockery of criminals who’re claiming seized assets. “They hide those assets, they stash them away, and when they serve their time there, come back and enjoy them here, declare themselves insolvent over there, but they’re rich here.”