Santiago de los Caballeros. – The National Police reported the dismantling of an alleged gang that was dedicated to recruiting foreign citizens, mainly of Kenyan nationality, by posing as taxi drivers to subsequently strip them of money, documents, and valuable belongings in different locations of the Cibao region.
During the operation, Jordy Abreu Capellán, 32; Elvin de Jesús Torres Espinal, 28; and Charli Peña, 29, were arrested, while authorities maintain an active search for a fourth individual identified only as “El Patu,” pointed out as part of the criminal structure.
According to investigations, the detainees allegedly participated on April 29 in the assault on a Kenyan citizen who was heading to a bus terminal bound for Dajabón, after entering the country from Haiti, where he was performing humanitarian work.
The investigations establish that the suspects operated between Santiago and Bonao, identifying foreigners arriving from Haiti and offering them transportation services. Once they gained the victims’ trust, they would take them to remote areas where they allegedly threatened them to strip them of cash, cell phones, luggage, personal documents, and other valuables.
Abreu Capellán and Torres Espinal were arrested in the Bella Vista sector of Santiago while traveling in a Toyota Hilux pickup truck. Subsequently, through intelligence work, agents located Charli Peña in Bonao, where they recovered an HP laptop that had been stolen from the victim.
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During the raids and operations, several cell phones were also seized, which will be subjected to forensic analysis as part of the investigation to determine the possible involvement of those implicated in other similar events.
The Police indicated that the detainees will be placed at the disposal of the Public Ministry for the corresponding legal purposes, while efforts continue to capture “El Patu” and establish if there are more members linked to the alleged criminal network that operated against foreign citizens in transit through Dominican territory.
