NewsWhore
07-23-2008, 04:00 PM
Investigative reporters Minerva Isa and Eladio Pichardo continue their in-depth look at the drug business in some of Santo Domingo's poorest barrios. Their most recent report looks at how small-time narcotics dealers - 'narcos'- pay local law enforcement personnel a fee to operate in a given area. According to the article in today's Hoy, Isa and Pichardo say that although many citizens do not know for certain, they suspect that it is impossible for the "micro-traffic" of drugs to expand in such spectacular way without assistance from someone watching over the business. In the barrios, everyone knows about the collusion that goes on between police and drug enforcement agents who get their 'cuts' in return for enabling business to continue.
Community representatives and religious leaders are also aware of this and have complained about the situation on many occasions. Low salaries are a major contributing factor, they say.
According to the reporters, the collusion is possible thanks to the existence to criminals that are 'hooked up' to police or police turned criminals. This is in evidence when someone complains about one of the "micro-traffickers" to the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) and the criminal gets tipped off, because when there is a dragnet for such criminals they are never anywhere to be seen. The complicity is also reflected in the amount of drugs that is said to be confiscated, always less than the real amount, and the excess is sent back into the system. For the complete story go to:
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2008/7/23/240846/Los-narcos-pagan-peajes-para-facilitar-microtrafico (http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2008/7/23/240846/Los-narcos-pagan-peajes-para-facilitar-microtrafico)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)
Community representatives and religious leaders are also aware of this and have complained about the situation on many occasions. Low salaries are a major contributing factor, they say.
According to the reporters, the collusion is possible thanks to the existence to criminals that are 'hooked up' to police or police turned criminals. This is in evidence when someone complains about one of the "micro-traffickers" to the National Drug Control Department (DNCD) and the criminal gets tipped off, because when there is a dragnet for such criminals they are never anywhere to be seen. The complicity is also reflected in the amount of drugs that is said to be confiscated, always less than the real amount, and the excess is sent back into the system. For the complete story go to:
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2008/7/23/240846/Los-narcos-pagan-peajes-para-facilitar-microtrafico (http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2008/7/23/240846/Los-narcos-pagan-peajes-para-facilitar-microtrafico)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)