Santo Domingo.- The Predator crewless reconnaissance aircraft was shown to local media for the first time at the San Isidro Airbase Sunday night by National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) president Rolando Rosado, who said the government seeks an agreement with Haiti’s authorities to ensure its operations can cover the entire island and “close the airspace to drug trafficking.”

He said the aircraft’s mission is only reconnaissance and its task will be supported by the Super Tucano intercept planes.

“The Dominican Government is grateful to the U.S. authorities, DEA, Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Embassy of that nation, for their confidence in the country, the tactical importance and the hundreds of millions of dollars involving the operations, which will not cost one cent to the country,” the official said.

 Rosado said drug interdiction agencies such as the Armed Forces, DNCD, National Police, prosecutors and other intelligence agencies of Europe and the U.S. will be involved in the aircraft’s operating.

"It's basically an effort to support Dominican Republic now in the strategy drafted in the National Drug Plan which ends this year, intended to close the air, sea and land space," he said, adding that the satellite-controlled craft will carry no weapons.

UPDATE

According to eldia.com.do, during its testing the Predator has been used in operations which led to the capture of 1,722 packages of cocaine at sea, in joint operations of the DHCD and the U.S. DEA.