Late president’s top aide linked to 142 Ks cocaine bust

Santo Domingo.- National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) seized 142 kilos of cocaine on Tuesday in a summer residence owned by Noe Sterling Vasquez, former lawmaker and Chief of staff to the late president Joaquin Balaguer.

The DNCD said the house, located in the resort community Guayacanes, was in fact a warehouse for drugs, since more packages were found with traces of cocaine.

It said it arrested Rosario Clemente, who apparently works as a caretaker of the house.

DNCD president Rolando Rosado himself directed the raid conducted Tuesday afternoon, after agents reportedly had staked out the residence for several days.

Sterling Vasquez was senator and deputy for southwestern Barahona province, where he was one of the founders of Balaguer’s conservative PRSC party, but later joined the left of center PRD.

The former lawmaker is also the father of Martín Noé Sterling Villalón, who was linked to the execution of seven Colombians in Paya, Bani, on August 4, 2008. The DNCD said Sterling Villalon is wanted for questioning in the case.