The Army of the Dominican Republic (ERD) announced this Saturday the capture of Félix Leonardo Alcántara Severino, known as “Leonel” or “El Presidente”, alleged leader of an undocumented trafficking network that operated in the southern region of the country.
The arrest occurred during an operation carried out in the Las Guanábanas section, in Azua, where 70 Haitian nationals with irregular immigration status who were traveling on a bus were detained.
According to ERD reports, Alcántara Severino was arrested while escorting the bus aboard a black Nissan Note vehicle. Yoan Figuereo Encarnación and José David Gómez Díaz were arrested along with him, who were transporting seven undocumented Haitians in the same vehicle.
You may be interested in reading: 77 undocumented Haitians detained in Azua
In the operation, Edward Aquino, alias “El Grande”, driver of the Hyundai Universe Luxury bus, which transported the 70 Haitians, was also arrested. This bus was owned by José Antonio Rosario.
During the investigations, the authorities found a Mercedes Benz Jeep, model GLE 450, parked in the town of Guanito, in the province of San Juan de la Maguana.
According to intelligence information, this jeepeta was going to be used by Alcántara Severino to facilitate the transfer of undocumented immigrants. However, because the vehicle had two flat tires, it could not be used and the traffickers continued their route in the Nissan Note.
The detainees will be placed at the disposal of the Public Ministry to face due judicial process. Meanwhile, the vehicles and undocumented Haitian nationals were transferred to the 13th Infantry Battalion of the Dominican Republic Army. The authorities have assured that they will continue investigations to completely dismantle the human trafficking network that operated in the area.
