SANTO DOMINGO.- The Director General of Immigration has ordered the immediate dismissal and remand of an immigration inspector from the institution who was arrested in flagrante delicto for smuggling 20,000 cigarettes from Haiti.
The DGM head’s measure affects Marcelo Alcántara Oviedo, who is accused of illegally carrying 25 boxes, containing 200 packs, of Point brand cigarettes. These cigarettes were being transported in a Honda Civic with license plate A 970316.
The DGM intelligence report indicates that members of the National Army ordered Alcántara Oviedo to stop at the Matayaya checkpoint in San Juan de la Maguana, and that he fled and later surrendered in the Las Matas de Farfán municipal park, where he was arrested.
Lee Ballester said he will not allow any employee of the institution to commit or be involved in any type of illegal activity and ordered that the incident be thoroughly investigated to determine its scope and whether there are other accomplices.
“We want our personnel to lead by example. We are champions of compliance with duty, the legal framework, and transparency. We will continue to be strict and vigilant to prevent and punish violations of our regulations,” stated the senior military officer and director of the DGM.
Communications Directorate