Dominican agents bust vast ring extorted Haitian migrants

Santo Domingo.- The National District Office of the Prosecutor announced Wednesday the arrest of 11 Immigration agents, an Army captain and two sergeants charged with forming part of a network which extorted Haitian immigrants to enter Dominican territory.

The detainees allegedly submitted the Haitian nationals captured during raids to intensive extortions.

The Immigration agents were identified as Rafael Antonio De Jesus, Bernardo Christian Sanchez, Anderson Batista and the military Johan Alexander Berroa, Bolivar Patricio Pepén and Porfirio Escoto.

The arrests occurred at the Immigration Agency headquarters, after it was determined that they extorted dozens of Haitians after taking them into custody, releasing them later after getting paid.

National District prosecutor Alejandro Moscoso said they’ll be formally charged in the next few hours, and will ask the Armed Forces Minister to place the members of the military at the disposition of justice.

During the search 22,950 pesos were seized from the group, reportedly part of the money taken from the Haitian nationals.

Moscoso said an arduous intelligence work led to the bust of the ring that extorted Haitians, “who were later released thanks to the payment demanded.”