Police in the Dominican Republic seized 104 packages of cocaine that were hidden in four suitcases of Portuguese tourists boarding from Punta Cana airport to Lisbon last Tuesday. A drug dealer was arrested by local authorities for international trafficking.
The flight, carrying approximately two hundred Portuguese people, was delayed for more than three hours at Punta Cana airport with passengers on board while police operations were carried out at the airport. Eleven Portuguese did not end up continuing their journey, with authorities investigating possible links to international drug trafficking.
The drug was discovered during an airport inspection conducted by agents of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), members of the Specialized Airport Security Corps and canine units coordinated by the Department of Justice. In a statement, the country’s authorities clarified that they were carrying out inspection work in one of the terminal areas when, using an X-ray system, they discovered distorted images inside four suitcases. “In the presence of the deputy prosecutor, they opened the luggage and found eight backpacks inside the suitcases, which contained a total of 104 packages of the substance. About 104 packages, suspected of cocaine, which were supposed to be sent to Lisbon (Portugal), were confiscated during the international A reconnaissance and inspection operation was carried out at Punta Cana airport in the province of La Altagracia,” the official statement said.
Following the arrest and an investigation already underway, a man, identified by authorities as Henry Lappost Mercedes, was arrested. “Prosecutors and the DNCD continue their investigations while search and arrest teams work to locate other individuals involved in the foiled international drug trafficking operation.
Authorities are investigating a possible connection between the man and two other men arrested in March as they tried to smuggle 60 kilograms of cocaine from the same airport to Portugal.