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BiggerSinaloa cartel member arrested at Punta Cana Airport
Punta Cana.- The National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, with support from the DEA and U.S. Marshals, arrested Efraín Sánchez Cabanillas, alias “Bala,” a Mexican national linked to the Sinaloa cartel. He was apprehended at Punta Cana Airport while attempting to leave the country.
Sánchez Cabanillas, 38, is wanted in the U.S. for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamines. A Massachusetts court accuses him of trafficking over 400 grams of fentanyl, 5 kilograms of cocaine, and 500 grams of methamphetamines.
Authorities cited Law 285-04, which bars fugitives from entering the Dominican Republic. His arrest is part of ongoing efforts to combat transnational crime in collaboration with international agencies.
One of the Dominican media outlets, El Dia, reported “Bala” was vacationing in the RD because he arrived as a tourist. It could be suspected it was a working vacation?
Curious that he was arrested on departure and not on arrival as the cited law 285-04 refers to fugitives banned from entry. Maybe he was allowed to enjoy his holiday, closely watched by authorities to see who he met during his stay, and was then arrested when leaving.