U.S. IS MAIN DESTINATION OF DRUGS SEIZED IN DOMINICAN AIRPORTS,
CLAVEGITAL SAYS

Santo Domingo. - The United States is the main destination of the
drugs seized in Dominican Republic airports during the first half of
the year, or 427.7 kilos of mostly cocaine, headed to that nation and
Europe, said newspaper Clavegital.com.

Of that amount 342.6 kilos were confiscated when it was on the verge
of being shipped to the U.S., and 319 kilos of that was cocaine,
along with 14.1 kilos of heroin and 9.3 of marijuana, said Clave
using National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) figures.

The drug was seized in Puerto Plata and Cibao airports, both in the
country's north, and in Samana (northeast), Punta Cana (east) and Las
Americas, in Santo Domingo. Other destinations for the drugs seized
are Spain (42.8 kilos of cocaine), France (15.4), Ireland (8),
Switzerland (5.9) Holland (5.8) and Italy and Austria in smaller amounts.

During the first half this year Dominican agents also confiscated 1.2
kilos of heroin headed to Puerto Rico. They also arrested 66 people
in connection with the shipments, 49 men and 17 women in Dominican airports.

DNCD president Rafael Ramirez told the service Efe that international
drug trafficking uses Dominican Republic as a "shipping lane" to
Europe and the United States due to their pressure in other parts of
Latin America. "When United States conducts an operation in Central
America, South America and Mexico the drug traffickers look for
easier routes such as Dominican Republic and Haiti."