US Edition
US Embassy Worker Extradited and Indicted in Duty-Free Cocaine Smuggling Plot
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, AUG 7 – Jairo Eliezer Arias Caceres used his embassy role to smuggle cocaine hidden in duty-free goods from the Dominican Republic, facing 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
- Following the unsealing of an indictment, Arias Caceres was extradited to New York City after being charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, allegedly hidden in duty-free Johnny Walker bottles, Marlboro cartons, and Choco Pie boxes.
- While stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Arias Caceres exploited his role from 2018 until earlier this year to facilitate drug smuggling.
- Using purchases at Santo Domingo Airport, couriers allegedly smuggled cocaine concealed in airport duty-free packaging and Choco Pie snack boxes.
- With a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, Arias Caceres faces serious federal charges if convicted.
- Homeland Security Investigations Newark Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy said the investigation involved joint efforts by HSI, DEA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Marshals Service, as cocaine has surfaced in unique containers worldwide in recent months.
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9 Articles
Ex-embassy worker smuggled cocaine in Marlboro cartons, pie boxes: DOJ
A former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was extradited from the Dominican Republic to the United States. Jairo Eliezer Arias Caceres, 35, has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. Embassy officer accused of organizing smuggling scheme The indictment alleges that Arias Caceres ran an international conspiracy to smuggle coc…
U.S. embassy worker smuggled cocaine in Marlboro cartons and Choco-pie boxes, DOJ says
A former employee of the U.S. Embassy smuggled cocaine in Marlboro cartons and Choco-pie boxes into the United States, the Department of Justice said in an indictment unsealed Wednesday in federal court.Jairo Eliezer Arias Caceres, a security officer in the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic, smuggled cocaine into various airports in the New York area by disguising the cocaine in various packages, court documents alleged. Prosecutors accuse …
US embassy staffer smuggled cocaine into NYC in duty-free goods, including Johnny Walker, Marlboro cigs, Choco-pie snack boxes
Jairo Eliezer Arias Caceres, a US embassy staffer in the Dominican Republic, was indicted for smuggling cocaine into New York by stashing the drugs in duty-free items, including Johnny Walker bottles, Marlboro cigarette cartons, and Choco Pie snack boxes.
US embassy worker extradited for smuggling drugs to NY airport
A former security officer at the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a cocaine smuggling operation into the U.S. Jairo Eliezer Arias Caceres, 35, of Santo Domingo, made his initial appearance Wednesday in Manhattan after being extradited to face one count of conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S, according to the Attorney’s Office for the Southern…
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