Dominican Republic officials host fugitive’s ‘press conference’

Santo Domingo.- The case of drug-trafficking convict Winston Rizik, who figures on the U.S. Marshals list of “armed and dangerous” fugitives, reveals the fear of Dominican Republic officials in dealing with dangerous criminals.

Widely known as "El Gallero” (Cock fighter) for his love and success in the macabre came, Rizik surrendered Thursday afternoon to face drug trafficking and murder charges. He was handed a microphone to speak, despite the presence of the Minister of Justice and of the National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD).

Accompanied by his lawyers, Rizik spoke in a press conference at DNCD headquarters, headed by its director Julio César Souffront, Anti-money Laundering Unit director Germán Miranda and Justice minister Francisco Domínguez, who called the convict the head of one of the country’s most important drug cartels.

Rizik claimed innocence and said the brothers Pascual and Julio César (Yulin) Cabrera Ruiz are behind the accusations. "I might be sentenced, I might be released, but this should be resolved once and for all. And in the same way I’m here dealing with it, I expect that Pascual Cabrera Ruiz and Julio César Cabrera Ruiz will also appear here."

Rizik was reportedly questioned at the DNCD, and would be arraigned in the next few hours.