Dominican Republic orders extradition of three citizens to the United States

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Vice President Raquel Peña, acting as head of the Executive Branch, ordered the extradition of three Dominican citizens to the United States through Decrees 716-26, 717-26 and 718-26.

The orders involve Darío Bautista, Ramón Joaquín Romero Bastardo and Luis Arismendy Paca Méndez, who are wanted in separate cases in the United States.

Bautista is wanted under an indictment filed in August 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. He is accused of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States.

Romero Bastardo is wanted in connection with a case filed in October 2024 in the Supreme Court of New York, Bronx County. He faces charges including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, first-degree gang assault, second-degree assault and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

Paca Méndez is wanted under a superseding indictment filed in February 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The three extradition orders were issued while Peña was serving as acting head of the Executive Branch.