Beechcraft 55 Baron aircraft. Photo pilotfriend.com
Santo Doming.- Dominican Republic will buy maritime radar and a twin-turbine helicopter with funds seized from drug traffickers to attack them at sea, the route which the cartels most use after flights from South America were virtually shut out of the country’s airspace.
The head of the National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) said after advances in the control of illegal flights the focus now is drug trafficking’s sea routes into Hispaniola.
Rolando Rosado said South American drug cartels have the capacity to mutate, for which the authorities will implement controls with maritime equipment bought by the Dominican government with funds from the sale of confiscated property.
He revealed that in the next two months a marine radar will be installed in an aircraft, also seized from drug traffickers, to comb the coasts and the high seas, and alert Dominican Navy and Air Force units and carry out joint interdictions, a task currently performed using U.S. (Puerto Rico) or Colombia equipment, according to those nations’ ability to cooperate with the Caribbean.
Quoted by eldia.com.do, Rosado said the radar will be installed in a Beechcraft 55 Baron aircraft, seized at Las Americas Airport in December 2010 with cocaine hidden in the fuselage and owned by Puerto Rican pilot Santos Ceda Rodriguez, who was found dead two days later in Higuey (east). That aircraft’s engines had barely 40 hours of flight time.
Twin turbine helicopter
The official said the twin turbine helicopter would be equipped with night operations equipment, to patrol and pursue suspects at sea without endangering its occupants. The radar and helicopter will cost US$2.9 million.
Airspace control
In a surprising statement voiced last week U.S. Embassy chief of staff Daniel Foote said that "Dominican Republic has essentially eliminated drug trafficking by air,” which Rosado confirmed by noting that radar blips of illegal flights have been virtually halted, as evidenced by U.S. air surveillance systems.
Written by: jasfalon, 11 Feb 2013 8:20 AM
From: United States
Right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Written by: zooma, 11 Feb 2013 8:37 AM
From: United States
This is more see what we got chest pounding than anything else.
The tables have to be turned on the enablers, those home grown military and government officials, who by criminal design or just plain ineptitude/passiveness allow the traffic into and out of the country.
Remove the enablers.
Written by: RonEvane 
, 11 Feb 2013 9:53 AM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland
" U.S. Embassy chief of staff Daniel Foote said that "Dominican Republic has essentially eliminated drug trafficking by air."
Is that so? Well, now, if I was a smuggler, I'd use a nifty submarine. I could probably travel undetected
From the Colombian coast to somewhere on the sparsely populated Pedernales coast. Even better, straight to Puerto Rico.... That is, if no US subs are patrolling near, using sonar.
...Ssssssshh. Lets keep this amongst ourselves, ok?
From: Jamaica
The LAPD never never goes after criminals with the intensity and determination they are going after Dorner. The LAPD don't give a damn about the common citizen but now that their a$$ is in danger, they are sparing no expense. Cowards!!! I hope that Dorner is somewhere in Brazil somewhere sipping a beer, wearing a rasta wig, and relaxing while those lying idiots up in LA continue to lose sleep.
From: United States
Temporary good news. The drug lords will need to re-route the distribution.
I still think legalization is ultimately the best policy.
Written by: generoso, 11 Feb 2013 10:42 AM
From: Dominican Republic, United States
Aren't confiscated funds supposed to be turned over to the government for disposition?
Aren't purchases of new equipment supposed to be rendered for public tendering?
What confers the legality of a government department to dispose of funds, unilaterally and without official bids and tenders?
Did the impounded aircraft had any legal owners that where claiming it?
To spend 2.9 million US dollars buying radars is no small change, especially for the DR.
Just asking.....................
From: United States
yeah you might have a valid point but , i rather see that these aircraft go to good use in dominican soil ,than see them go to some dominican general for pennies .
Written by: synapse, 11 Feb 2013 1:16 PM
From: United States
Just get rid of the Dominican Navy and the problem will be solved !
Written by: RonEvane , 11 Feb 2013 2:38 PM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland
I concur, Synapse.
The so-called NAVY, should be disbanded and reshaped into some kind of COAST GUARD.
Their obsolete WW2 vintage crafts aren't up to task for what's needed today. Namely, swift boats, To intercept smugglers, rescue vessels, to aid boat people on the high seas, and a couple of nice, modern Nazi U-boats, to prevent subs laden with cocaine from reaching Pedernales.
Written by: Tomas, 11 Feb 2013 3:01 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera
Hey, at least it looks like we are trying to stop the drugs!
Written by: RonEvane , 11 Feb 2013 3:32 PM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland
"I still think legalization is ultimately the best policy."
Agree,Tony, up to a certain point. Drugs such as Marijuana and Cocaine can be beneficial to people and the national economy. Peruvian president, Ollanta Humala, has lifted penalties for use of Coca leaves, which can be imported here, processed, into a paste that can be sold with strict/exacting requirements.
Once it’s readily available, Coke smuggling will cease to be a problem, with the criminal element being totally eliminated.
Just think of the tsunami of tourists and resulting tons of money infused into our economy. We could build ourselves a new nation, complete with all things money could buy. An Eden of beautiful flowers and a place of peace of mind and soul.
I could totally imagine myself sitting on a park bench toking on my Marijuana cigarette, watching the girls go by…. Wow!
Opiates, such as Morphine and Heroin, can be highly addictive, and therefore evil. Good only in medical practice.
Written by: Trujillo, 11 Feb 2013 7:29 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Even before they bought the Super Tucanos, they were getting ready for the submarines. Before the Super Tucanos and the law to shoot the drug smuggling planes down the DR had over 200 of those planes enter and land in the DR in a year, now that number has come down to zero.
Written by: Trujillo, 11 Feb 2013 7:39 PM
From: Dominican Republic
But remember that there will always be drug trafficking as long as it is illegal. Illegality and high demand is what makes it worth so much. Illegal drug trafficking is what is causing most of the drug related crimes and since we don't make any of the equipment used to fight it we are importing all of it. So it's not only in the drug dealers' interest that it stays illegal. Addicts should be helped and treated like alcoholics and not sent to prison to rot. It's either legalization or mano dura. Cross your arms and you'll become what the drug dealers have turned Mexico into or worse.
Written by: generoso, 11 Feb 2013 7:51 PM
From: Dominican Republic, United States
Que Viva Trujillo!
'Pa Matarlo otra vez!
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This is more see what we got chest pounding than anything else.
The tables have to be turned on the enablers, those home grown military and government officials, who by criminal design or just plain ineptitude/passiveness allow the traffic into and out of the country.
Remove the enablers.
" U.S. Embassy chief of staff Daniel Foote said that "Dominican Republic has essentially eliminated drug trafficking by air."
Is that so? Well, now, if I was a smuggler, I'd use a nifty submarine. I could probably travel undetected
From the Colombian coast to somewhere on the sparsely populated Pedernales coast. Even better, straight to Puerto Rico.... That is, if no US subs are patrolling near, using sonar.
...Ssssssshh. Lets keep this amongst ourselves, ok?
I still think legalization is ultimately the best policy.
Aren't purchases of new equipment supposed to be rendered for public tendering?
What confers the legality of a government department to dispose of funds, unilaterally and without official bids and tenders?
Did the impounded aircraft had any legal owners that where claiming it?
To spend 2.9 million US dollars buying radars is no small change, especially for the DR.
Just asking.....................
Just get rid of the Dominican Navy and the problem will be solved !
I concur, Synapse.
The so-called NAVY, should be disbanded and reshaped into some kind of COAST GUARD.
Their obsolete WW2 vintage crafts aren't up to task for what's needed today. Namely, swift boats, To intercept smugglers, rescue vessels, to aid boat people on the high seas, and a couple of nice, modern Nazi U-boats, to prevent subs laden with cocaine from reaching Pedernales.
"I still think legalization is ultimately the best policy."
Agree,Tony, up to a certain point. Drugs such as Marijuana and Cocaine can be beneficial to people and the national economy. Peruvian president, Ollanta Humala, has lifted penalties for use of Coca leaves, which can be imported here, processed, into a paste that can be sold with strict/exacting requirements.
Once it’s readily available, Coke smuggling will cease to be a problem, with the criminal element being totally eliminated.
Just think of the tsunami of tourists and resulting tons of money infused into our economy. We could build ourselves a new nation, complete with all things money could buy. An Eden of beautiful flowers and a place of peace of mind and soul.
I could totally imagine myself sitting on a park bench toking on my Marijuana cigarette, watching the girls go by…. Wow!
Opiates, such as Morphine and Heroin, can be highly addictive, and therefore evil. Good only in medical practice.
'Pa Matarlo otra vez!