NewsWhore
07-13-2006, 03:10 PM
Of 3,289 people arrested for possession of drugs over the past two years, 2,429 were released by the courts, or state prosecutors never presented cases against them. Marino Vinicio Castillo, advisor to the Executive Branch on drug matters, reported that of the three thousand arrested, only 860 are in jail or have cases pending, and only three have been sentenced, while two are under house arrest. He told Listin Diario that only 0.46% of the cases have been heard by the courts over the last two years. He said that there are many loopholes that enable suspects to be released. Of the 3,289 cases, he said that 1,068 were released by the assistant prosecutors at the National Drug Control Department, and another 1,361 were released by the courts. Castillo said that unfortunately, drug cases in the DR are not being heard.
He also said that there are innumerable leakages of information, and drug dealers are alerted to hide the evidence before the security forces can arrive. The Listin Diario reports that among the cases that have been ignored are several where individuals arrested in the possession of up to 10 kilos of cocaine were released.
Police sources indicate that 95% of the cases of arrests are not tried, while 75% of the violent crime cases can now be linked to drug trafficking.
The root of the problem is that the use of the Dominican Republic as a trans-shipment point for drugs to the US has led to a growth in drug consumption after locals were paid in drugs, instead of in cash. Now, with the local drugs market growing, hundreds of small dealers have established a stronghold throughout the country, and new addicts need to commit crimes in order to fund their new vice. The wealth of drug dealers has made a support-strapped Police and DNCD easy prey.
This was a taboo subject until the problem escalated to a point where local citizen groups are demanding action to tackle the problem. The elimination of crime has become a national priority to tell from headlines in the press and percentage of crime discussions among groups of friends and family, and the media.
Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)
He also said that there are innumerable leakages of information, and drug dealers are alerted to hide the evidence before the security forces can arrive. The Listin Diario reports that among the cases that have been ignored are several where individuals arrested in the possession of up to 10 kilos of cocaine were released.
Police sources indicate that 95% of the cases of arrests are not tried, while 75% of the violent crime cases can now be linked to drug trafficking.
The root of the problem is that the use of the Dominican Republic as a trans-shipment point for drugs to the US has led to a growth in drug consumption after locals were paid in drugs, instead of in cash. Now, with the local drugs market growing, hundreds of small dealers have established a stronghold throughout the country, and new addicts need to commit crimes in order to fund their new vice. The wealth of drug dealers has made a support-strapped Police and DNCD easy prey.
This was a taboo subject until the problem escalated to a point where local citizen groups are demanding action to tackle the problem. The elimination of crime has become a national priority to tell from headlines in the press and percentage of crime discussions among groups of friends and family, and the media.
Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)