NIce to see a "tough approach" applied to a couple of low level punks. How about applying this to all law breakers, including government officials?

Get a well connected Lawyer ! That is your only hope.... Cards are stacked against these two guys. If guilty, they will suffer in a Dominican jail. I hope that the truth (whatever it may be) will come to light someday !

...Any word or statements from the US Embassy on this? I can't believe they are keeping their mouths SHUT for a change. Certainly they must have in interest in this somehow. Perhaps the culprits were conspiring to traffic ultimately to the U.S. through England.

juanb I agree. Where did these low level punks get this stuff from? How about spending more time catching the big fish and then these small time guppies won't exist because there won't be as much of a supply. Too bad most of the big fish are the corrupt government officials.

Diversion the the big package is already in England!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vivacuba here is your big mouth from the U S you suck.

Are these the same two that were described earlier as being English ,then two days later they were described as German and now they are Scottish ?? It will be interesting to see how the justice system works in this case

Ricardolito, they are scottish, I know them both.

Whatever they have done - be it that their things were tampered with, or that they done this with intent - I just hope they get a fair trial.

Obviously it would be better to see them tried in this country and have them serve their sentence here, but understandably, there is little to no chance of that.

As previously said, if they done it with intent, then yes, they should be punished. I feel more sorry for their family's if this is the case. Knowing them, its difficult for me to believe they planned this operation (badly, I might add). They are not perfect, but drug trafficking? I am still in shock. I hope it isnt true. But I guess we might never know. But I am totally convinced that they are not the ones who planned this, there are bigger fish out there somewhere.

Give me a break!

Dominican tough approach to drug offenses! Are they serious?

Were it not for US influence, guys like Maconi & Quirino would still be roaming the streets in their big Yipetas, with their pockets loaded with US $.

Dominican laws are dispensed by decree and on the fly, and only applicable to those not connected and who do not pay bribes. Period.

Any one knows outcome of that case perpetrated out of Santiago with the missing plane that flew to some far-out Bahamian island and was supposedly lost at sea with several people on board, then mysteriously returned to DR? Everything has been hush hush on this issue.

Let them go. Drugs for all who wish them.

justagirl : Don't dream on that, you are going to have a nightmare, they did the crime in DR and they should pay here, however seems to be that you know them a little but not enougt what these two rats where doing. For the monies dances the monkey and now they're going to dance in jail with big black boys who like white meat.

That's their fair trial they're going to have. 3rd. world country jail, OH BOY.........

Dominican tough approach to drug offenses! Are they serious?

You must be from Marts …. Didn’t you follow the Laura Hernandez & husband case? DR has one of the most strict punishments for drug trafficker in Latin America

I wont have a nightmare, I know these boys, they are not ''friends'' or relatives of mine, I have spoken to them in passing. I would never have thought they would be involved in something like this, purely because they did not seem smart enough to pull it off - clearly, that is something I was right about.

Like I said, yes, they should be punished, but there are few in this world I would wish a jail such as these upon - but I totally get that they committed the crime over there and inevitably, thats where they will do the time.

For individuals wanting to know how this case is going to end up, I suggest they research the Laura Hernandez & husband case.

Antonio1'

You wrote: "You must be from Marts …. Didn’t you follow the Laura Hernandez & husband case? DR has one of the most strict punishments for drug trafficker in Latin America"

Well, here in "Marts" we read most of the stories published in this forum. While unfamiliar in specific case you cite, I do not doubt its veracity. Sometimes the authorities either haven't been paid off or just wish to grandstand, and this might be one of those cases. I don't trust them. They are very corrupt and only have self-serving interest.

Are you familiar with poster "JuanDominguez" and his numerous postings about the goings on at Ensanche Caonabo, Sector Los Platanitos in Santiago? He talked about the house with blue Honda Civic in front where the "Chapo" openly traded in drugs with impunity. Where was that strict Dominican justice in these numerous instances?

i know both these guys mainly paul as iv worked with him in the past.

both are very very very very very small fish that have been used either as a decoy or on the off chance that they would get through. they must have been offered money and told that it would be easy because they ABSOLUTLY COULD NOT HAVE PLANNED THIS they are not the sharpest tools in the box.

i still cant beleive these two have done this its unreal seeing ther face in the picture haven known them.

Sir, do you know how to Google? That the first thing you needed to do before you REPLAY with such an answer. If you don't know about the Laura Hernandez case then you are: either Dominican or Puertorican.

it would be cheaper if we just send them back and make it so they can never fly here again.....

From the looks of these two, they don't have the ability to survive if separated.....or even if left together. I sense there will soon be a celebration in a Dominican jail featuring these two "jumping the broom". Only Dominican drug dealers get cell phones, liquor and conjugal visits from barrio hookers.

Good luck lads, tu eres carne fresca!

I am happy to see that the Dominican Republic is getting tough on its drug crime. I wish they were that tough on drugs in the United States. Maybe the Dominican Republic should get tougher on the illegal prostitution that exists in the barrios, but once again that falls back to the corrupt officials. I hate to see when women and girls are exploited for their bodies.

this white boy are going to get rape in the dominican republic jaill t...

Written by: Grosero, 19 Jul 2009 7:46 AM
From: United States
Not if they're Street Wise..

Bro, you can look at these two and see they're NOT street wise....they're not book smart either.....they're the ones who will be taking the "shank" and it's not the cutting type.

Being Street wise in the DR Cities is nothing compared to being Street wise in the DR prison system. One can only imagine the horrors these two will have to deal with on a daily bases and to make things worst depending on Dominican Police tactics in interrogation used to extract information.
If one gives lot's of information things can go a little easier with DR Prison Authorizes with broken promises with possible early release, but....on the other hand among the inmates this could be deadly. 10 fold complicated if both are separated.
The Prison conditions are appalling. I'm willing to bet the only good chance of survival would be the Family's of both supply weekly SMALL amounts money to ease there conditions for food and basic necessities.
Both must adjust to the pecking order while in Prison and follow rules of the Prison system .
To fellow inmates both will be viewed as RICH spoiled Children to be blackmailed, robbed and used as ponds.
PRAY FOR BOTH.

Both are going into a Prison System already established on it's own rules, regulations, enforcement and enforcers. Shank one sure most will back-off, but even He has friends and sometimes Family Members also serving time.
One has to consider sleep, one can't sleep with both eyes open 24/7 365 days multiply by ? years sentence given.
To me there best chance of survival would be hold back, stand strong, learn the Language, show respect, stand firm, learn the gift of gab and adjust a.s.a.p.

I personaly know these two guys well from my early school years and to think they would actually try to smuggle that amount of drugs across the border. (ITS INSANE!) Bring them back to the UK to get sentenced they could not possibly survive in a foreign jail!!!! As greenockguy said 'They are not the shapest tools in the box!

Well if they were that daft to try it they were daft enough to get caught.
GOOD LUCK LADS!!!!!!

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

Laura Hernández Pérez is a Puerto Rican actress and journalist best known for being jailed in the Dominican Republic in 2002 after being accused of drug trafficking with her husband Marcos Irizarry and 3 other individuals, 2 of them Arod Levy III and Edwin Adams Cotto die in a jail riot in Higuey, they both burned to death as a result of the fire that killed more than 130 other people. She was sentenced to 7 years in jail, and her husband to 15 (still serving). She was released on August 26, 2005.

El vocero

the boys deserve to be brought back and giving a fari trial back in britain we all knw they are NOT going te be giving a fair trial and that is the sadest thing

For crying' out loud allen, the more noise you guys make, the more notice the case is going to get and the two bustard are going to get the full 15 years in Dominican jail, so my advices is to Put a dill pickle in your mouth and shut up.

allenfoster gives this opinion

the boys deserve to be brought back and giving a fari trial back in britain we all knw they are NOT going te be giving a fair trial and that is the sadest thing

for them to be tried in britain, they have to have committed a violation against the british state. not because they are british citizens means that the british legal system can mount a case against them, since they did nothing chargeable within british jurisdiction.

Billymc,
I hear you...but, can you please repeat that last posting.... my old age and all, sorry I don't understand.....That Lingo, Slang, Street Punk, word street definitions it amazes & puzzles me to H#%$ and back.
Please try again.

Hello greenockguy and justagirl from Scotland, I am sorry to hear that this happened to your friends. I have plenty of friends from the U.K. that is including Scotland, and as a Dominican, I thank you for your great tourism to the Dominican Republic. Okay in putting ourselves in their shoes, yes it is hard. Dominican Republic has to get on top of the drugs that are either being imported or exported, because it is something that many of us do not want for our island in terms for the future for everyone including the tourists, and reputation as well.

How can someone have a trial in UK when the crime happened in DR??? You are crazy.

Grosero,
If they shank someone they will get an extra 30 years, what kind of advise it that???

These guys are just glaikit boys. Somwhere, the creep that convinced them this was a smart move is hiding like the piece of crap he is. I do not condone what they did. Drugs are the most evil thing on the planet. Spreading death and destruction that touches us all. These guys know nothing about the world or the full consequences of their actions. However I still belive they should be punished in a just manner.It just grates that the real criminals are not in the dock with these guys as they will no doubt carry on convincing those of a less educated nature that these things are possible.

xwill7,
the only exception is if the offense somehow involved the US. They would make a request to extradite and almost every country in the world would bow down to the scumsuckers because no government, other than Iran and North Korea have the balls to say "no".

hopefully DR has grown some balls and will continue to fight drugs

It looks like almost everyone posting already passed a guilty verdict on these two characters. What about if they are not guilty? What about if they were set up and drugs were put in their bags or luggage? Perhaps, they had a problem with someone in DR who set them up? If that is the case I feel sorry for them. That is why, I urge anyone traveling abroad to pack their own luggage. You never know. And, if they are guilty, what dumbasses! You have to watch yourself in a foreign country. Prison in a foreign country is not the same as a nice prison in Scotland where you can play basketball, work out, earn a college degree for free, and eat good food.

There are certain illegal acts you should not committ when in a foreign country. Namely, you should not look for drugs. Even marijuana can get you in trouble. Stay away from having sexual relations with a minor. Ask for their birth certificate or passport if you are not sure. Photocopy them would even be better. By all means, do not steal anything in any store or restaurants. Make sure you pay for your tab. Especially if you are in Paris, France; do not order a Mouton Cadet 1971 bottle of wine and walk out without paying on the pretext that you were too drunk and forgot to pay (private joke). :-)

-

I have known Paul since he was a child. I know his family and rest assured , they are truly gutted by all this. The level of hopelessness they must be experiencing is mind boggling. Paul is still just a child in my mind and Iam convinced he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, likewise his friend. Knowing him so well I can imagine him being persuaded ( easily ) . We all make mistakes . Unfortunately this ones a doozie.

good luck Paul.

I believe Paul does have the mind of a child. He has no grasp on being an adult which is scary because is a father. He is very immature, I don't doubt for a second he loves his child, perhaps in his mind, he was doing the *for* his child. I don't know, but clearly he never thought far enough ahead on the possible consequences and how they would impact his family - between having to deal with this, the money it has, and will cost them should they decide to fly out to DR. Its a real shame for both families because I am almost certain, not one of them knew what these two were planning, it must have hit them like a tonne of bricks. It would be nice for the family to be able to know they would be brought back, or they would at least be ok. But the conditions out there are so dire and volatile, the boys and there families must be on tenderhooks at all times. I wish them luck, lets face it, they need it.

what happened to the posting from billymc i dont see it anywhere here?

It probably got taken down since it seemed to be referring to other matters

there has been no messeges posted now for 12 days and similarly at home in inverclyde this story is old news these two must be going through hell and no onne cares anymore, lets keep up the support!

Greenockguy,
Your right....Must keep pressure on.
I wonder what's the latest news on these two Lads ?
Have they been even Charged ?
Have they been brought to trial ?
What is the charge ? if any !
What are the British Officials doing ?
So is the DR Justice system.
Keep praying for the two and all there Families.

You guys all must be mental. These guys have commited a crime in an another country, it is only right that they serve their sentence just like the rest of the people in that country. These 'Boys' as some people keep refering to them are both adults, not children and part of being an adult means that you must take responsibility for your own actions. It is very unfortunate for the families and I am genuinely saddened by what they must be going through. But as for these two men, who are well known in greenock as trouble makers and general thugs are now paying for a crime which they DID commit knowingly. As for your theory that someone in the dominican republic planted the drugs there, why would this mysterious person have the common courtesy to hide the cocain in coffee packets for them? a rediculous suggestion sorry to say. Commiting a crime in another country without knowing the consequences is just stupidity and selfishness.

@dsmall,

You are way behind on your reading!

This story is so old that no one cares about it anymore.

Why don't you choose some current topic and comment?

Things could always be worse....

http://www.pinoygigs.com/blog/tag/3-filipinos-executed-in-china/

@Viva,

I feel bad for these individuals, but "Chinese Rule of Law" was upheld. They certainly knew what they were getting into and took calculated risk, which clearly did not pan out for them.

This was a case of crime and swift punishment. Hopefully their lives were not totally wasted, and their demise will provide a signifcant deterrent to others who might wish to follow in their foot steps.

May they all rest in peace.

MJEV.

I am commenting on this because it is a subject close to home. If you think that any case as serious as this can simply be forgotten over the space of a year then you must be a very ignorant person and to just follow a story for a few days and then disregard it and other peoples opinions is pretty low. I had a look at the filipino story too, pretty brutal. Then again, all the chinese government were doing there is trying to impose their own laws which is the point i was making with the two scottish guys. It's only fair. There are a number of coutries which are even harder on drug smugglers and pushers than that too, lethal injection is a godsend for these guys compared to the likes of people in Thailand or in the middle eastern countries for example.

@dsmall,

You don't suppose that ignorant is a bit strong?

You don't suppose that we are fatigued with frequent barrage of cases such as this one? I doubt it was ignorance on my part. Look, the story may be of particular interest to you, but to most of us is just another mundane story and we are not that interested in it; that's why it went silent more than a year ago.

If you are not careful with your overt arrogance, then you might expose your own ignorance.

MJEV.

Try entering Saudi, Immigration will sit ALL arriving Pakistanis' down for 8 hours wait time on the floor to see if they "pass" something as mules. Imagine this, "ALL" migrant workers; ALL the time. No exceptions. 8 hours!

The point im trying to make is, if you aren't interested in it, then just don't comment, respect other peoples right to have an interest in it. Go and comment on something else that you actually are interested in. I'm done speaking with you.

The persons on here are the grieving families. the story is most unfortunate for them. I am sorry for them as they must live this every day of their lives for something they did not do.

Thats exactly who i feel for. The main problem they have is that they cant even afford to go to Dominican Republic to see them because it's just far too expensive so they can't actually get to see them. How many brits are being held in Dominican Republic at the moment?

Thats exactly who i feel for. The main problem they have is that they cant even afford to go to Dominican Republic to see them because it's just far too expensive so they can't actually get to see them. How many brits are being held in Dominican Republic at the moment?