Santo Domingo.- Authorities arrested a councilman from San Pedro de Macorís linked to a drug trafficking and money laundering network, from whom they confiscated 93 packages of cocaine, high-caliber weapons, cash, clothing and luxury vehicles last year.
Councilman Walky Cuevas Charles, who was elected on the ticket of the Social Democratic Institutional Bloc (BIS), was arrested in one of the raids deployed yesterday by the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD) and members of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Anti-Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.
Cuevas Charles and Pamela Violeta Astacio, also arrested, are believed to have participated in the drug trafficking structure led by Junior Santos Restrepo, who along with others is in prison for the case.
Several of the vehicles seized from the drug trafficking and money laundering network.
The organization has been under investigation by anti-narcotics authorities for two years.
In a statement, the agency reported that more than 50 agents and soldiers, accompanied by five prosecutors, carried out a total of six raids in the National District and San Pedro de Macorís, intervening in a house, two apartments, as well as three commercial premises, where they seized six vehicles, a firearm, cash, among other evidence.
Intelligence has established that the group is part of an international drug trafficking structure that sent drugs to the neighboring island of Puerto Rico, the United States and Europe via speedboats, using the country’s airports and ports for its operations.
Follow-up
It is recalled that in September 2023, the authorities occupied a drink shop, a currency exchange house, a villa and two apartments, two rifles (an AK-47 and a 5.56 caliber), a shotgun, four pistols – a Five Seven, two Glocks and a Beretta -, two bulletproof vests and ammunition of different calibers.
On that occasion, the authorities seized four vehicles, RD$512,850, US$14,896, watches, clothing, cell phones, electronic equipment, personal documents and other evidence, as indicated in a press release.
“Properties worth millions have been seized from this structure, including villas, houses, apartments, clothing, watches, high-caliber weapons, high-end vehicles, among other assets.”
The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Anti-Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the DNCD continue to deepen the investigation to locate possible assets and real estate, as well as arrest other people involved in this drug trafficking and money laundering network.
A wide scope
The criminal structure, which had its center of operations in San Pedro de Macorís, also operated in Punta Cana, La Romana, Nagua, María Trinidad Sánchez and Santo Domingo. It is credited with coordinating large shipments of cocaine from South America to the east coast of the Dominican Republic, to then be distributed by air and sea to other territories such as North America and Europe, including destinations such as Miami, New York, Puerto Rico, Boston, New Jersey, Portugal, Holland and Spain, according to the prosecuting agency.
The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Anti-Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the DNCD continue to deepen the investigation to locate possible assets and real estate, as well as arrest other people involved in this drug trafficking and money laundering network.
Over a period of 11 years, the organization is credited with introducing RD$309,865,016 into the national financial system.
Drug trafficking
—1— Charges
The network faces charges for violating Law 50-88 on Drug Trafficking; Law 631-16 for the Control and Regulation of Arms, and Law 155-17 on Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.
—2— Research
According to authorities, the network had been operating for more than 11 years in the eastern region.
Judge ordered coercion for four members
Justice. In April of this year, the Permanent Attention Office of San Pedro de Macorís imposed a year of prison sentence against Yunior Santos Restrepo, in the El Seibo Penitentiary Center. Meanwhile, his sister, Hellwy Santos Restrepo, was placed under house arrest.
In addition, Danilo Antonio Piñeyro Aristy received three months of preventive detention in the Correction and Rehabilitation Center of San Pedro de Macorís, and Yohan Altagracia Reyes Ruiz was given the same measure for three months in Najayo Mujeres, in San Cristóbal.
The prosecution’s indictment states that one of the tactics used by this organization was to consolidate multiple shipments of narcotics into a single trip, which allowed them to reduce costs and maximize profits by transporting merchandise from different groups.
