In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated Operation Leopardo, resulting in the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of 643 packages of a substance believed to be cocaine. The operation, conducted in La Altagracia province, was a collaborative effort involving the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, and the La Altagracia Prosecutor’s Office, with international support from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Among those apprehended are Daniela Amancio Olavarría, Rafael Torres Díaz, Wilson Rafael Inirio, and Néstor Julio Rodríguez, all accused of involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. They are set to face coercive measures at the Judicial Office of Permanent Services in La Altagracia. Additionally, Moisés Severino Inirio, José Ignacio de Jesús Mota, and Pedro Luis Cordero Espinal remain at large and are linked to the case.
The contraband was discovered on El Carmen Street at the corner of Libertad Avenue in San Rafael del Yuma. The operation saw the participation of 27 prosecutors and 194 DNCD agents, with 17 raids conducted across multiple locations, including the National District, Santo Domingo Este, Guerra, Boca Chica, Barahona, Santiago, Higüey, Cap Cana, and Romana.
Deputy Attorney General Wilson Camacho emphasized that Operation Leopardo reflects Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso’s steadfast commitment to combating drug trafficking and organized crime. DNCD President Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa echoed this sentiment, stating that the seizure deals a significant blow to transnational criminal networks and underscores the Dominican Republic’s strengthened security efforts.
Authorities confiscated five properties, a recreational boat, firearms, motorcycles, vehicles, and substantial sums of cash totaling RD$1,769,400 and US$159,698. This operation is connected to a previous seizure of 993 kilograms of cocaine in April, linked to a transnational criminal organization led by Serbian nationals Nikola Boros and Antun Mrdeza, who are wanted by Interpol for cocaine trafficking across the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Italy.