US Drug Enforcement Agent Detained in Dominican Republic Over Visa Irregularities
A senior DEA official was arrested in the Caribbean nation accused of abusing a system of permits reserved for intelligence collaborators.
US Drug Enforcement Agent Detained in Dominican Republic Over Visa Irregularities
A senior official from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) working in Santo Domingo was placed in police custody after being linked to alleged abuses of an authorisation mechanism for entry to United States territory designed for confidential informant sources. The news was confirmed by two people with direct knowledge of the case, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still ongoing.
The individual in question is named Melitón Cordero. His arrest coincided with Donald Trump's government issuing an executive order to immediately close the antinarcotics office in Dominican territory. The measure was justified as a response to what authorities described as a serious breach of public ethics.
The investigation is being conducted by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). No specific circumstances regarding how the arrest occurred have been revealed thus far. Attempts to reach the suspect by telephone were unsuccessful, and both the DEA and DHS declined to provide statements when approached.
Ambassador Leah F. Campos used her account on social media platform X to announce the temporary suspension of operations at the local office of the antidrug agency. In her message, the diplomat emphasised that any conduct that exploits an official position to obtain personal benefit is unacceptable, assuring that she would not tolerate even the slightest suspicion of corrupt conduct within the diplomatic mission under her direction.
From the Dominican government, Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez clarified that the decision to close the facility responds solely to internal motivations of the United States administration, without involvement of local institutions.
The visa programme in question allows agencies such as the DEA and the FBI to manage the entry into United States territory of foreign nationals whose criminal backgrounds linked to organised crime would normally prevent them from crossing the border. These individuals, known as confidential informants, provide assistance to investigations and, after meeting certain requirements, may access permanent residence.
An audit conducted in 2019 by the Justice Department's oversight office had already identified structural failings in this scheme. The document warned that roughly one thousand beneficiaries had fallen off the radar of authorities, raising concerns about the risks this situation could pose to public safety and national order.
Bilateral cooperation on drug trafficking has historically been close between both nations, given that Dominican territory functions as a key corridor for the trafficking of narcotics originating from South America. Late last year, President Luis Abinader had authorised the presence of United States personnel in restricted areas of San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport, with the aim of reinforcing operations to intercept illicit shipments.
_Source: CTPost / The Associated Press_
Source: Google News DM — Crime