Colombian brothers get 5 years in prison for drug trafficking

San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.- A court in SanCristobal (south) on Friday sentenced four Colombians including two brothersand one Dominican on charges to drug trafficking and money laundering.

The Colombians Jean Carlos Ronda Estrado, Angel FernandoVargas Gomez, were sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the brothers HurberOswaldo and Angel Maria Buitagro -who had been acquitted by a lower court- weresentenced to five years in prison.

The Appealte Court Penal Chamber ruled against Buitagro,who was also charged with operating a drug lab, uncovered in August, 2013, by authoritiesin Sabana Toro township.

San Cristobal court judges Garabito Maria Ramirez, NilsonCastillo and Domingo Sención also sentenced Dominican ntioal Bartolina OrtizPastrana to five years in prison.

Prosecutor Diosmeri Soto called the sentences “a greatachievement for the prosecution and the judiciary in the fight against criminalityand organized crime.”