DOMINICAN FUGITIVE SANTOS CASTILLO EXTRADITED TO

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 002170 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR WARD AND JAFFEE DEPARTMENT FOR 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 SANTOS CASTILLO EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES REF: 2004 STATE 24575 ¶1. On September 13, 2007, U.S. Marshals returned Santos Castillo Garcia to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to stand trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and aiding and abetting those offenses. As detailed in indictment number 95-427 (JAF),filed on December 27, 1995, Castillo participated in the ongoing storage, packaging, and distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine in Puerto Rico, as well as shipment for distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to the continental United States. ¶2. This case was brought before the Dominican government on February 9, 2004, by virtue of an Embassy diplomatic note. It was not until September 4, 2007, however, that Castillo was apprehended by officers of the Dominican Republic's National Directorate for Drug Control's fugitive apprehension unit. ¶3. Castillo 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 Castillo marks the 25th Dominican-national fugitive returned through or in lieu of extradition proceedings during FY-2007 (the 16th for CY-2007). BULLEN