Be on the lookout once on the Las Americas Airport's exit ramp.
Santo Domingo.- The Police arrested at least four gangs of thieves who robbed travelers leaving Las Americas Airport (AILA) in the last five months, including one woman in one of them, based in nearby Andrés and Boca Chica.
The report comes just hours after the U.S. State Department warned American citizens on traveling to the country, noting the high number of highway robberies of travelers after leaving the country’s busiest airport.
El Nacional reports that Police busted the gangs totaling 22 people, with only four still behind bars.
The latest group arrested in May, four men and one woman, assaulted several travelers from the U.S., including the couple Francisco Lantigua and Kenya Suriel, who lost US$10,400, items valued at RD$100,000, among other belongings brought after his return.
The police seized an unspecified amount of cash and items and charged Luis Miguel Sanchez, Jovanny Gala Lizardo, Rafael Recio Arcadio, Manuel Perez and Victoria Silfa. The men are still being held without bail while Silfa posted bond.
It was reported that the four men a court imposed coercive measures three months, while the woman was sentenced to a fine, barred from leaving the country and regular reporting to the judge.
The U.S. Embassy had also issued travel advisories, which prompted top AILA official Carlos Cota Lama to affirm that members of the military and civilians are the gangs’ accomplices.
Written by: Atabey, 6 Jun 2012 3:46 PM
From: United States, NYC
Put them in prison to work in a chain-gang along the border for say ten years.
From: United States
thieves? gang members?
Ufff. Must be Josean and Co. and his people from PPH...
They must be hidden at the close PRD party in Churchill ave.!
Written by: juanb, 6 Jun 2012 3:53 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Way to go, gov't.
Lock all those doors after the horses are stolen.
It would have been nice, unexpected but nice, if the government had thought to do something about these thieves before the US started warning its citizens about the danger in traveling here.
From: United States
Doesn’t this seem very suspicious after the US issued the alert that they miraculously caught a bunch of people? I don’t buy it.
Written by: whipmeco, 6 Jun 2012 4:21 PM
From: United States, Colorado
@ Rgonzalez54, Funny how that works eh. No problems here, until the US issues a warning and maybe the tourism dollars start to go elsewhere. Then they start rounding up the crooks. One wonders if the people they detained are actually the real criminals.
From: United Kingdom, part time DR
Staggers me that '22 arrested and only 4 behind bars' - crime pays.
It's right for the US to post this and other countries should do so too until someone - Danillo now - gets a grip
From: Dominican Republic
don't worry the pld government and the judges will a have out in oh say ummmm 3 days.they get locked up but will never get more then 5 years.its the judical system here thats f--- up.no one does real time here.they don't even want to pay for more jails in this country.with a country that doesn't even have life in prison or the death penalty.forgetaboutit lol.i say fry those f----.ks.or cut off there hands.
From: Dominican Republic, NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER FORSAKEN!
Why don't we shoot them?
Don't worry Juan they're not Haitians!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Dominican Republic, NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER FORSAKEN!
Is this what it takes for the police to act?
A foreigner open his mouth and all of a sudden the police try to do its job. Wao!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
It was reported here in Dt more than 6 months ago that various people had been arrested after one of these highway robberies went wrong and many shots were fired into a stolen government car and then people were arrested ,,but obviously more gangs spring up ..I came back from the Uk several weeks ago and my taxi driver told me on the way to Zona Colonial how the robberies are worked out .
Well at least these people are now behind bars for 3 months and judging by the backlag in the courts that will be extended for much longer ..I think the police have done a good job in nabbing these people , even if it took some nudging ..but they have had patrols on las Americas at night
From: Dominican Republic
dominican republic only country were the government bends its back for tourist.they can do no wrong.dr is like the commercial ef hutton.(the turist talk,leonel listens).but forget his own people.he says,f---- my fellow dominican citizen if he don't got money.the people here get treated like step-kids all the time.what a shame.
Written by: synapse, 6 Jun 2012 5:06 PM
From: United States
THE DR ...... IT HAS IT ALLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!
What an appropriate slogan.
I suggest that the DR adopt the Roman custom of crucifying all their criminals all the way to the capital on every street light lamp post to warn everyone entering the city that this will happen to you if you come to do your dirty deed!
It worked for the Romans, just ask any Christian, -they are still weeping over 2 thousand years later.
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
I just want to say this ...There have been a series of robberies and vicious street attacks in my part of zona colonail and I have been , with several neighbours trying to help the police .I have seen how they work and the appalling conditions in which they work and the lack of computer assistance they have and I have seen the hours they work and the strong arm tactics that are sometimes needed .
If i were Danilo I would reduce all salaries of politicians by 15 % and pass this on to the police working in the field .At present they get next to nothing and I can understand that the temptation to augmenttheir pittance must be very great for some. There are bad and crooked police but there are also very good ones .
From: Dominican Republic
wow ricardolito i totally agree with u one this one.thats my only complaint.i am for progress like i told ohhhvictoria but it has to be in whole,not just building things in this country,malls,cruise ports,etc...its also about maintaining things as well like fixing roads,building more jails and fixing up police stations and modernizing them with the latest technology as well as giving cops raises.if there apart of government they should be paid accordingly like in the us.how do expect a cop to live on 6,000 pesos a month and feed his family and not be corrupt.thats were the problem begins.i agree with u on reducing poiticans salaries 15%,lets give that 15% to cop raises and better computer systems for them,
Written by: juanb, 6 Jun 2012 6:11 PM
From: Dominican Republic
We can expect to receive from the Police exactly what we are getting until we start to pay them a living wage and make them proud of their jobs. Having them afraid that violation of the public trust will lead to them being punished wouldn't hurt either.
Written by: juanb, 6 Jun 2012 6:26 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Here's a good one, from 7dias.com:
Policía garantiza la seguridad de las personas que viajan por distintos aeropuertos
From: Dominican Republic
well said juanb i also agree it comes hand to hand if we pay u like politicans then we have to hold u accountable as well.there should be some form of and I.A.B (internal affrairs unit)were dirty cops can be investigated and people can lodge complaints without reprisal.
From: Dominican Republic
You get what you pay for... pay them crap and don't be surprised when that's all you get in return....
Good comments above.... J, J, Ric...
Written by: RoyStone, 7 Jun 2012 5:36 AM
From: Australia
These travel warnings have been on the USA government website for over a year. When more Americans start reading these warnings, it will hit the Dominican tourism industry, if it has not done so already. (We will never know if we rely on government-spun "statistics".)
Reduce politicians' salaries by 15%? Reduce vice-ministers' salaries by 50% and they will still be paid more than the Australian prime minister. Reduce the number of them by 75% and there will still be more than in the Australian parliament. Sadly and in accordance with "the golden rule", it will never happen. (Them with the gold, make the rules.)
Written by: RoyStone, 7 Jun 2012 8:45 AM
From: Australia
Maybe this is why Puerto Plata airport has more arrivals than the capital - less risk in a quick shuttle trip to the high-walled security-guarded all-inclusive.
Written by: matador, 7 Jun 2012 9:06 AM
From: United States, www.brugal-ron.com/home.php
Only four left in Jail, DR is a lawless country thats why crime is so High, Punish those Bastar to 10 years each see if they gonna want to commit a crime again
Written by: generoso, 7 Jun 2012 10:49 AM
From: Dominican Republic, United States
The DR police shines when the pressure is on, and the eyes are watching.
Police pay is a misery which forces cops to be open to bribes, and this is the first thing that has to be changed.
Written by: danny00, 7 Jun 2012 10:51 AM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
These travel warnings have been on the USA government website for over a year. When more Americans start reading these warnings, it will hit the Dominican tourism industry
IUSE TO LIVE IN POP. .{AND LOCALS}
TODAY THEIR IS A LOT OF TOURISTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT HAVE KILLED OR ROBBED IN THIS AREA.
PLEASE DONT MAKE ME NAME OR PUT NUMBERS ON THIS COMMENT GO GOOGLE IT.
From: Dominican Republic
FREE JORGE & JUAN, they too young to die
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Put them in prison to work in a chain-gang along the border for say ten years.
Ufff. Must be Josean and Co. and his people from PPH...
They must be hidden at the close PRD party in Churchill ave.!
Way to go, gov't.
Lock all those doors after the horses are stolen.
It would have been nice, unexpected but nice, if the government had thought to do something about these thieves before the US started warning its citizens about the danger in traveling here.
It's right for the US to post this and other countries should do so too until someone - Danillo now - gets a grip
Don't worry Juan they're not Haitians!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A foreigner open his mouth and all of a sudden the police try to do its job. Wao!!!!!!!!!!!
Well at least these people are now behind bars for 3 months and judging by the backlag in the courts that will be extended for much longer ..I think the police have done a good job in nabbing these people , even if it took some nudging ..but they have had patrols on las Americas at night
THE DR ...... IT HAS IT ALLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!
What an appropriate slogan.
I suggest that the DR adopt the Roman custom of crucifying all their criminals all the way to the capital on every street light lamp post to warn everyone entering the city that this will happen to you if you come to do your dirty deed!
It worked for the Romans, just ask any Christian, -they are still weeping over 2 thousand years later.
If i were Danilo I would reduce all salaries of politicians by 15 % and pass this on to the police working in the field .At present they get next to nothing and I can understand that the temptation to augmenttheir pittance must be very great for some. There are bad and crooked police but there are also very good ones .
We can expect to receive from the Police exactly what we are getting until we start to pay them a living wage and make them proud of their jobs. Having them afraid that violation of the public trust will lead to them being punished wouldn't hurt either.
Here's a good one, from 7dias.com:
Policía garantiza la seguridad de las personas que viajan por distintos aeropuertos
You get what you pay for... pay them crap and don't be surprised when that's all you get in return....
Good comments above.... J, J, Ric...
Reduce politicians' salaries by 15%? Reduce vice-ministers' salaries by 50% and they will still be paid more than the Australian prime minister. Reduce the number of them by 75% and there will still be more than in the Australian parliament. Sadly and in accordance with "the golden rule", it will never happen. (Them with the gold, make the rules.)
Police pay is a misery which forces cops to be open to bribes, and this is the first thing that has to be changed.
IUSE TO LIVE IN POP. .{AND LOCALS}
TODAY THEIR IS A LOT OF TOURISTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT HAVE KILLED OR ROBBED IN THIS AREA.
PLEASE DONT MAKE ME NAME OR PUT NUMBERS ON THIS COMMENT GO GOOGLE IT.