Francisco Alberto López Reyes, alias “Francisco Fentanilo” or “Frank,” He was extradited to the United States on Wednesday to face charges of deadly drug trafficking and the deaths of at least nine people, including a member of the US military. These crimes could lead to a sentence of life sentencegiven the magnitude of its operations, which spanned more than a decade, as reported by the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) in a press release.
However, the extradition treaty between the Dominican Republic and the United States establishes that, when surrendering a person wanted by the United States government, he or she cannot be sentenced to the death penalty or a penalty that exceeds the maximum allowed by the Penal Code. Dominican, which is 30 years in prison.
“Francisco Fentanyl” He allegedly led the operation that distributed opioids disguised as pills such as Oxycodone, Adderall and Xanax to customers in the United States, Germany and other countries.
The investigation indicates that the victims died between 2023 and 2024 after consuming pills that they believed were genuine oxycodone, but which in reality contained fentanyl.
López Reyes allegedly operated in the Dominican Republic since 2010 through a “virtual pharmacy,” according to the report from Dominican authorities. That same year he was arrested and, after serving three months of preventive detention in La Victoria prison, he was released.
It is presumed that López Reyes and four others involved operated from an internet center located at the intersection of Mella Highway and Charles de Gaulle Avenue, where they illicitly distributed controlled medications.
In addition, the operation allegedly had a well-organized structure, where López Reyes specified to his collaborators the quantities and types of pills to send to clients, many of whom were vulnerable people seeking relief for pain or mental health problems.
The network was dismantled after an undercover operation, in which authorities discovered large quantities of pills and other narcotics. It is estimated that they manufactured up to 100,000 pills every 12 hours in clandestine laboratories.
There is no evidence of distribution in the DR
According to authorities, there is no evidence that fentanyl was distributed within the Dominican Republic.
López Reyes, who was arrested again on October 7, operated from the country, but the fentanyl he offered was produced in India and then distributed in the United States.
Two other members of the criminal organization, Cynthia Onega and Robert Junior Ramos Henríquez, of North American nationality, were arrested and handed over to that country, due to their alleged involvement with this criminal structure.
Operation to capture him lasted 29 days
The operation to capture “Francisco Fentanilo” lasted 29 days and was led by the Public Ministry and the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), with the collaboration of US Marshals. The operation was supported at a strategic level by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to the DNCDOn September 29, the prosecution body obtained search warrant number 2024-AJ0020794, executed in the province of Espaillat, where he resided.
Additionally, among the evidence, authorities found child pornography material in an iCloud account.
It is a prison sentence in which a convicted person remains incarcerated for the rest of their life, usually for serious crimes such as homicide or drug trafficking. It can be imposed without the possibility of parole or with the option of requesting it after serving a certain time.
This type of sentencing follows a judicial process where evidence is presented, and although the convicted person cannot leave prison, they still maintain certain rights, such as appealing their sentence. Life imprisonment generates an ethical debate about its justice and humanity.
