DRUG KINGPIN EXTRADITED FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001658 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (MCISAAC),L/LEI (FUENTES AND TAYLOR) JUSTICE FOR CRIM/OIA (J. MAZUREK AND R. GOLDMAN) US MARSHAL SERVICE PLEASE PASS TO C. DUDLEY DEA FOR OF, OFI, DO, DOC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PINR SNAR DR SUBJECT: DRUG KINGPIN EXTRADITED FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REF: A. 03 STATE 308182 ¶B. SANTO DOMINGO 01328 ¶1. (SBU) On March 10, 2004, Jose Arismendy Almonte Pena (a.k.a. Joselito.com) was extradited from the Dominican Republic. The Dominican National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD) worked closely with the DEA to arrest the fugitive at the only tollbooth on the highway between Santiago to Santo Domingo. Almonte Pena is wanted in the Federal District of Puerto Rico to stand trial on numerous narcotics charges. Almonte Pena had been designated by the DEA as a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) and his arrest and speedy extradition mark a high point in the cooperation between the USG and GODR on law enforcement issues. ¶2. (SBU) At the urging of both DNCD and emboffs, the U.S. extradition request for Almonte Pena was expedited by the Dominican Attorney General's Office, the Foreign Ministry and the legal office of the President. Completing an extradition less than two weeks after the arrest of the wanted person is a rare occurrence in a country where it often takes many months for a final extradition order to be signed. The USG hopes to build on the success of this case to reduce the average time of incarceration before extradition for other fugitives. ¶3. (U) Almonte Pena is the sixth fugitive extradited from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. in 2004, and the 60th under the administration of President Mejia. KUBISKE