Extradition to Spain of Jonathan Vera Pozo: three charges for drug trafficking and organised crime
The Dominican Republic orders the extradition of Spanish citizen Jonathan Vera Pozo, detained in Punta Cana, to Spain for cocaine trafficking, money laundering and organised crime.
Dominican Republic delivers to Spain defendant accused of cocaine trafficking and money laundering
The Executive Power of the Dominican Republic ordered the extradition of Spanish citizen Jonathan Vera Pozo to Spain, where he must answer for alleged offences against public health, money laundering and criminal organisation. This was reported by the spokesperson of the National Police, Diego Pesqueira, according to infobae.com.
The measure was formalised through decree 795-26, signed by vice president Raquel Peña acting on behalf of the Executive Power. The text orders his delivery to the Kingdom of Spain to answer before the Court of Instruction number 5 in Madrid, which is conducting the investigation within the framework of preliminary proceedings number 7/2026.
Vera Pozo, 41 years old, was detained on 2 October in the municipal district of Punta Cana, province of La Altagracia, during the international operation Fast Lap. The arrest was carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), with support from security agencies in the United States and Europe. The Supreme Court of Justice had previously authorised his arrest for extradition purposes.
Spanish authorities identify him as one of the alleged persons responsible for a structure dedicated to international cocaine trafficking and money laundering. The investigations began in September 2023 following analysis of communications on encrypted messaging platforms. The organisation was linked to four cocaine seizures in Panama that, together, exceeded 1,500 kilogrammes of drugs.
According to investigators, the network allegedly used maritime containers to transport shipments from Colombia and Panama to Europe, using methods known as "blind hook", "rip off" or "pregnant": techniques that consist of concealing drugs in commercial shipments without the knowledge of the owners of the merchandise.
Operation Fast Lap included 38 simultaneous raids in different countries and concluded with 27 detainees: 26 in Spain and one in the Dominican Republic. Participants in the operation included the DEA, Spanish Police, the Guardia Civil, Europol and other international cooperation agencies.
During the raid in Punta Cana, authorities seized mobile phones, computers, tablets and three Ledger cold cryptocurrency wallets. Seven high-end watches, jewellery, bank cards, loan contracts, documents, a Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 4Matic vehicle, as well as USD 11,500 and 79,815 Dominican pesos in cash were also seized. The evidence was placed in safekeeping to be incorporated into the investigations being conducted by both countries.
Spanish authorities maintain that the network allegedly introduced illicit resources into the formal economy through companies linked to the real estate sector. Investigators detected investments related to the defendants in the Dominican Republic, Dubai, Ibiza, Marbella and Madrid.
Source: Google News DO — Crime