04 April 2016•Update: 14 April 2016
By Senabri Silvestre
SANTO DOMINGO. Dom. Rep.
The head of Interpol in Venezuela has been accused of smuggling drugs into the Dominican Republic, according to authorities.
The Venezuelan public ministry said Eliecer García Torrealba coordinated the transfer of more than 350 kilograms (770 pounds) of cocaine aboard a private plane that was detected last month in La Romana, Dominican Republic -- just outside of the capital, Santo Domingo.
A total of 16 Venezuelan were arrested, including businessman Paul Cardenas.
“Using his position, Garcia Torrealba, coordinated actions within the airport in order to ensure the departure of the plane. Cardenas could be the financier,” according to a Venezuelan prosecutor who released a statement late Saturday night.
Agents of the Dominican National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD), an anti-drug agency, found approximately 349 packages of cocaine in three bags onboard a Sesna aircraft.
They also, seized money, mobile phones, GPS devices, flight plans and personal documents.
The allegations come on the heels of a case last week in which a Dominican judge ordered the release of the five Venezuelans who were detained after being caught with illegal drugs.
The judge ordered their release citing “errors” in paperwork filed by authorizes in the case.The five are in custody on appeal by the public ministry that demanded the defendants remain in prison because of the drug-related charges.
The Dominican Republic is a major hub in the region for the illicit drug trade with shipments coming from Venezuela and other parts of South America before being sent to the U.S. Europe.
