Spanish
Santo Domingo.– President Luis Abinader awarded in 2024 the decoration of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella, in the rank of Knight, to Melitón Cordero, then supervisor of the office in Santo Domingo of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in recognition of his cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and the strengthening of ties with the Dominican authorities.
The recognition was arranged through Decree 520-24, which highlighted his “exceptional commitment” in the fight against transnational organized crime and his contribution to bilateral cooperation in security matters.You may be interested in: http://Federal accusation: DEA chief in DR managed 119 visas in exchange for bribes
The distinction becomes relevant after the recent federal indictment filed in the United States against Cordero, who faces charges of alleged conspiracy to commit bribery and visa fraud while assigned to the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo. According to court documents, the former supervisor allegedly processed dozens of visa applications and purportedly accepted money in exchange for facilitating temporary entry permits to U.S. territory. U.S. authorities are investigating the case, emphasizing that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case has generated attention in both Washington and Santo Domingo, given the history of cooperation between the DEA and Dominican organizations in the fight against drug trafficking. So far, local authorities have not issued an additional position on the decoration awarded in 2024.
