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