Dom. Rep., US boslter pacts on security, drug and people trafficking

SANTO DOMINGO. – Dominican Republic and the United States today signed three agreements on drug trafficking, security and human trafficking during a meeting between president Leonel Fernandez and US Homeland Security Dept. secretary Janet Napolitano.

Napolitano, before heading to the National Palace, signed a memo for the start of operations of unmanned aircraft Predator, according to Presidency Antinarcotics adviser Marino Vinicio Castillo, who was in the meeting in the US Embassy.

Upon leaving Fernandez’s office, the US official declined providing details of the agreements, but called them productive because in her view help bolster trade and security between both countries.

Napolitano also hailed Santo Domingo-Washington ties

The press however wasn’t allowed to ask questions to the senior US official, who arrived accompanied by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bureau chief David Aguilar, and Undersecretary for international affairs, Alan Bersin.

Drug traffickers use Dominican Republic as a bridge the U.S. and Europe.