Dominicans Face Extradition to U.S. for Drug and Murder Charges

Dominican officials have approved the extradition of two citizens to the United States to face judicial proceedings. The Executive Branch authorized the handover of Fidel Antonio Knight Cerda and Mario Elvin Jáquez, who are wanted by U.S. authorities.

Knight Cerda is sought to answer charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine with intent to import it illegally into the U.S., complicity in drug distribution, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. These requests stem from an indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, following a diplomatic note from the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo.

Mario Elvin Jáquez, also known by several aliases, is wanted to face a charge of second-degree murder. The decrees authorizing their extradition were issued by President Luis Abinader on Thursday, August 6. Dominican authorities have not provided further details on the specific circumstances of the alleged crimes or the timeline for the extraditions.