DOMINICAN FUGITIVE JUAN GARCIA EXTRADITED TO THE

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001609 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 JUAN GARCIA EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES REF: STATE 22356 ¶1. On July 5, 2007, U.S. Marshals returned Juan Carlos Garcia Soriano to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to stand trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico for possession with intent to distribute in excess of 5 kilograms of cocaine. As detailed in indictment number 05-29 (JAF), filed on January 27, 2005, Garcia was arrested on April 24, 2004, shortly after transporting 101 kilograms of cocaine in the area of Isla Verde, Carolina, Puerto Rico. ¶2. This case was brought before the Dominican Government on March 7, 2007, by virtue of an Embassy diplomatic note. Shortly afterward, the Criminal Chamber of the Dominican Supreme Court issued a provisional arrest warrant based on the USG request for extradition. On June 23, 2007, Garcia was apprehended by officers of the Dominican Republic's National Directorate for Drug Control's fugitive apprehension unit pursuant to that warrant. ¶3. Garcia subsequently made a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his right to challenge his extradition before the Criminal Chamber of the Dominican Supreme Court. ¶4. The return of Garcia marks the 13th Dominican-national fugitive returned through or in lieu of extradition proceedings during CY-2007 (the 22nd for FY-2007). BULLEN