Dominican Republic arrests two airport staff in major cocaine seizure

cocaine seizure Las Américas International Airport Dominican Republic DNCD airport employees

Dominican authorities arrested two employees of the Las Américas International Airport—Wilson Darío Castillo and Luis Miguel Peña—after a joint operation seized five bultos containing a total of 90 packages of cocaine. The Directorate of National Drug Control (DNCD), the Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESAC) and the Public Ministry coordinated the inspection in the airport’s catering area on 26 June, leading to the arrests and the seizure of the drugs. Both men were taken into custody on judicial orders and will face coercive measures for alleged violations of the country’s drug law. The investigation also resulted in five other individuals being held in prison while the DNCD and the Public Ministry continue to probe the case for further participants.

Separate operations by the Public Ministry in San Cristóbal uncovered nearly 5,000 units of adulterated alcoholic beverages and expired products, but these actions are unrelated to the airport cocaine case.