Puerto Plata Court sets May 25 trial against Lázaro Javier Tejeda for drugs

Puerto Plata.—Citizen Lázaro Javier Tejeda Rodríguez faces criminal proceedings in the Judicial District of Puerto Plata for alleged violations of Law 50-88 on Drugs and Controlled Substances, while remaining at liberty awaiting the continuation of the trial scheduled for May 25, 2026. According to hearing record No. 272-02-2025-TACT-00302, corresponding to unique case 2034-2022-EPEN-00750, the hearing held on February 19, 2026, was adjourned by the Collegiate Tribunal of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Plata, after accepting a request from the defense based on a medical certificate presented by the defendant. The court, presided over by Judge Benecia Altagracia Rojas Cruz and composed of judges José Juan Jiménez Sánchez and Jenny Amarilis Martínez Rivera, set the new hearing for 9:00 in the morning of the aforementioned day.

Charges and Audience Development

The process is followed to the detriment of the Dominican State for alleged violation of articles 4 letter D, 5 letter A (in fine part), 28 and 75 paragraph II of Law 50-88, related to trafficking and other behaviors related to controlled substances. During the hearing, the defendant was not present, a condition attributed to his medical situation. Some summoned witnesses also failed to appear, including an agent from the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), while another agent was present before the court.

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The Public Ministry, represented by prosecutor Jesús Ernesto Valenzuela, did not oppose the postponement requested by the defense, considering that it was a petition based on law.

Identity and documents under verification

In parallel to the judicial process, information has emerged about possible inconsistencies in identity documents associated with the accused. Among these is a Cuban passport in which he appears as Lázaro Javier Tejera Rodríguez, born in Havana in 1972. Likewise, there are references to documentation of alleged Colombian origin with different data, which raises doubts about the possible use of more than one identity or nationality. These pieces of information are not directly part of the ongoing legal case file and are kept under verification. The next hearing will be key to the continuation of the knowledge of the process, in which the appearance of the accused and the pending witnesses is expected.