DOMINICAN FUGITIVE SANTANA DE LEON EXTRADITED TO

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 003313 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR SEARBY, L/LEI FOR TORRES AND MUELLER DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR CRIM/OIA ORJALES AND ESTABROOK US MARSHALS SERVICE PLEASE PASS TO JIM SCHIELD DEA FOR OF,OFI,DO,DCO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CJAN CVIS KCRM SNAR DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN FUGITIVE SANTANA DE LEON EXTRADITED TO THE U.S. REF: STATE 148999 ¶1. On October 19, 2006, U.S. Marshals returned Ramirez Santana de Leon to Puerto Rico for trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Santana de Leon had been indicted on August 10, 2006, in case number 06-253 (PG), for multiple narcotics offenses involving multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine. He was a target of Operation Green Traketon, a multi-jurisdiction take-down targeting 56 alleged narcotics traffickers in six, largely Latin American and Caribbean, countries. ¶2. Following the September 22, 2006, issuance of a Dominican arrest warrant based on a U.S. request for extradition, Santana de Leon was captured on October 6 by agents of the National Drug Control Directorate's Fugitive Apprehension Unit. On October 9, Santana de Leon made a knowing, voluntary, and conscious waiver of his right to challenge his extradition before the Criminal Chamber of the Dominican Supreme Court. His extradition was properly confirmed by presidential decree. ¶3. The return of Santana de Leon marks the 22nd Dominican extradition to the United States in CY-2006 and the 4th extradition in FY-2007. HERTELL