Judge orders release of accused in Caribair Airlines drug bust

Santo Domingo.- A National District three-judge panel court on Monday ruled to release all defendants charged with conspiracy in an international network that trafficked drugs from South America to the Caribbean and North America, including Dominicans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Puerto Ricans, Americans, Jamaicans and Bahamians.

Judge Elka Reyes ruled to release all 12 defendants on bond of RD$30,000 each, including Rafael Rosado Senen, president of the regional carrier, Caribair.

The ruling also orders a criminal trial against all those allegedly linked to the network,.

In addition to Rosado, the defendants include Sergio Rene Gómez Díaz, José de la Cruz Morales, Cristian Antonio Javier Suarez and Home Errol Outram.

History

National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) dismantled the alleged drug trafficking ring in October 2012, accusing it of using the country as an operations center with twin-engine planes to transport large amounts of cocaine to North America.

In the wake of the arrests, authorities seized properties worth millions of dollars in Santo Domingo, Santiago and La Vega.