Spanish citizen arrested with 20 packages of cocaine at Punta Cana airport
A 24-year-old Spanish national was detained at Punta Cana Airport with 20 packages of suspected cocaine hidden in his luggage on a flight bound for Frankfurt.
Spanish citizen detained in Punta Cana with 20 packages of suspected cocaine bound for Frankfurt
A 24-year-old Spanish citizen was arrested last Saturday at Punta Cana International Airport, in La Altagracia province, when attempting to board a flight bound for Frankfurt, Germany, with 20 packages of suspected cocaine hidden in his luggage, according to infobae.com.
The operation was carried out by the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office and with the support of the Specialised Airport Security and Civil Aviation Corps (CESAC).
Prior intelligence flagged the passenger
According to the DNCD, authorities received intelligence information about the passenger before he accessed the flight. Based on that information, prosecutors and operational units intercepted his luggage to apply the corresponding inspection protocol.
During the search, canine units flagged one of the citizen's suitcases. Upon opening it, agents found packages wrapped in adhesive tape and marked with different logos, as detailed by the anti-narcotics agency.
Forensic analysis pending
The seized substance will be subjected to analysis at the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif), which will determine its composition, weight and purity. For that reason, the authorities preliminarily identify it as suspected cocaine.
In addition to the drug, agents seized two mobile phones and cash in US dollars and Dominican pesos. All those items were incorporated into the investigation as evidence under evaluation by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Investigation points to possible international networks
The detainee was handed over to judicial authorities to face justice. The drug was packaged under chain of custody and sent to Inacif.
The DNCD noted that both the Public Prosecutor's Office and the institution expanded investigations to determine whether other persons participated in the alleged shipment of narcotics to Europe.
"These are networks engaged in the illicit trafficking of drugs that use people of different nationalities, known as 'mules', to traffic narcotic substances to the United States, Europe and Canada," the DNCD stated in its official statement.
The authorities did not reveal the identity of the detainee or the total weight of the seized packages, a figure that will be determined following examination by Inacif. The investigation continues under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Source: Google News DO — Crime