Extradited Dominican kingpin linked to record bust

SANTO DOMINGO. – The National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) said it confiscated at least 1,500 kilos of cocaine early Sunday, from a Colombian network with links to kingpin Ramon Antonio del Rosario Puente (Toño Leña), extradited to Puerto Rico late last year.

The confiscation, the biggest ever, occurred in Juan Dolio, San Pedro propvicne, where three Venezuelans were arrested on board a boat, with 1,236 packages of cocaine.

In a press conference DNCD president Rolando Rosado said the boat set sail from Colombia’s Guajira Peninsula, tracked by the US Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“That network of narcotics traffickers uses the services of Venezuelans, Colombians and the remnants of Toño Leña’s ring band to bring narcotics to the country and then take it to the United States and Europe. Those individuals had the order to direct and to coordinate the drug trafficking operation until Dominicana Republic,” Mateo said.

The detainees were identified as Richard Chirino Primera, Eliezer Hernandez Guanita and Cruz Rafael Natera Fermín.

The official added that six Dominicans, who would allegedly receive the earth drug on land, to take it to the Cibao region, are being sought.