Dominican, U.S. agents bust ‘biggest coke lab found outside Colombia’

Santo Domingo.- The authorities on Sunday said a large underground lab which prepared narcotics, especially cocaine, was found in a farming village of San Cristobal province (south), and arrested two Colombians.

A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent said it’s the largest underground lab of that type found in the Caribbean region, previously seen only in Colombia’s jungles.

Also found were around 230 kilos of liquid cocaine , which was taken to the National Forensic Science Institute ( Inacif ) who certified the purity and weight of the drug.

Police Anti-Narcotics Dept. agents started combing the 300-hectare farm and luxury villa at La Rosa, near the town Sabana Toro last week, after staking out drug suppliers in Santo Domingo which were followed to the rugged mountainous area.

The police said the Colombians Johan Jairon Estrada and Angel Fernández Vargas, who allegedly built the underground lab to process cocaine, are being held at Najayo prison under drugs, weapons and other charges.

Police chief Manuel Castro headed the agents in the raid, accompanied by Justice minister Francisco Dominguez, and seven officials from the San Cristobal Office of the Prosecutor.