For approximately five years, an international drug trafficking network operated in the Dominican Republic, moving drug shipments and participating in activities such as money laundering, contract killings and compulsory collections, according to authorities.
The anti-drug agencies explained that the investigation against this organization had been going on for several months, however, it was not until this Wednesday that the Dominican authorities, in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the US Southern Command, carried out the Operation NK Buffalo (the meaning of the acronym was not provided) during which they carried out 33 raids and arrested ten people, including two of the alleged ringleaders.
“Ringleaders arrested”
Rafael Ynoa Santana, known by the aliases “el Cojo”, “Pocho” and “el Don”was arrested along with one of his alleged partners, Isidro Rotestan Class, alias “the Men”.
Ynoa Santana was said to be using multiple identities with passports from the country and other nationalities.
The interventions were carried out by more than 400 agents by air, sea and land in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, MarÃa Trinidad Sánchez, La Romana and Samaná.
According to investigations, Ynoa Santana had ties with the Colombian Juan Carlos Lopez, alias “the Nephew”, who led a criminal organization that operated in Colombia and Mexico. He was arrested on June 27, 2022 in Colombia during Operation Troya.
How did the network operate?
The members of the dismantled network were responsible for receiving large shipments of drugs in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. After coordinating the logistics, the drugs were sent to the United States and Europe, according to the police. National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
They allege that this network transported large shipments from South American countries such as Colombia and Venezuela via speedboats and fishing boats. Once the drugs entered Dominican and Puerto Rican territory, the members were able to triple their value, generating “exorbitant” illicit profits for the members of the alleged organization.
The busy
During the raids, authorities seized two tons of drugsa large arsenal of weapons, including shotguns, and a considerable sum of money. In addition, they confiscated dozens of vehicles.
Among the alleged evidence seized, authorities have in their possession several passports, coordinates used to carry out transactions, cell phones and communication radios.
He allegedly had alliances with the Sinaloa cartel
The Colombian National Police captured Juan Carlos López MacÃas, known by the aliases “Sobrino” or “el Grande”, on July 11, 2022. This individual was allegedly responsible for sending cocaine from La Guajira to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and then to the United States. He has also been linked to financing Gustavo Petro’s presidential campaign in the department of Casanare.
According to international media reports, the drug trafficker was arrested eight days after Petro took office. In the same operation, Sandra Navarro, a member of Colombia Humana, was captured with more than 30 million pesos in cash.
Navarro was reportedly part of the Colombia Humana committees in the Casanare department and, until February 2023, was listed in the political party’s minutes. Both she and her husband hosted several events for leaders of the Historic Pact in the region.
General Jorge Luis Vargas, the police director at the time, reported that in Cali, Soledad, Maicao, Yopal and Natagaima, “one of the main drug trafficking organizations serving the National Liberation Army (ELN) and which had alliances with the Mexican Sinaloa cartel” was dismantled.
“Sobrino” was the leader of the criminal structure and worked transporting cocaine hydrochloride shipments using go fast boats and hidden in fishing boats.
