Pubdate: Sun, 20 Feb 2005
Source: Miami Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The Miami Herald
Contact:  http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/262
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

ACCUSED COCAINE SMUGGLER IS EXTRADITED TO THE U.S.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - (AP) -- An ex-army captain accused of 
being one of the Dominican Republic's top cocaine smugglers was extradited 
to the United States Saturday to face drug trafficking and money laundering 
charges, his family said.

Quirino Paulino Castillo left Santo Domingo accompanied by U.S. authorities 
around midday aboard a plane bound for New York, a day after the Dominican 
Supreme Court ordered his extradition, his brother, Danilo Paulino said. 
Paulino Castillo, 44, is to stand trial on five counts of drug smuggling 
and money laundering in U.S. District Court in New York.

He was arrested Dec. 18 in Santo Domingo while allegedly transporting 3,051 
pounds of cocaine in a truck in what officials called one of the country's 
largest drug seizures. The arrest set off investigations into whether 
Paulino Castillo had help from top government officials. Four other 
Dominicans were charged in the case.

U.S. Ambassador Hans Hertell has said that top officials from the Dominican 
armed forces and anti-narcotics police force were implicated in drug smuggling.

Paulino Castillo maintained his innocence at a hearing Thursday, claiming 
he was framed by two senior military officers but refusing to publicly 
identify them.

Paulino Castillo joined the Dominican army in 2001 but was dismissed for 
"irregular behavior" in 2003, according to Santo Domingo District Attorney 
Jose Manuel Hernandez.

The Caribbean country of 8.8 million is a common transshipment point for 
South American cocaine bound for the United States.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager