Staff members at the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic are facing charges for attempting to smuggle cocaine into New York by concealing it among tax-free products. These included bottles of Johnnie Walker whiskey, Marlboro cigarette cartons, and chocolate pie snack boxes, according to federal prosecutors on Wednesday.
Jairo Eliezer Arias Caceres, 35, has been extradited from the Dominican Republic to New York, where he is accused of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Known as Cokes Lava, Caceres worked as a security officer at the embassy in Santo Domingo from April to December 2023 and had been with the embassy for seven years.
Attorney Jay Clayton expressed concern, stating, “Caceres was supposed to ensure the safety of our diplomats and embassy staff, but instead, he jeopardized New Yorkers by introducing illegal drugs into our community.”
The misuse of a position of national trust in serious drug trafficking is shocking to both the public and those in law enforcement, he added.
According to prosecutors, Arias Caceres utilized a courier to bring cocaine into New York’s airport, hiding it in various tax-free items purchased at Santo Domingo airport prior to departure.
Images revealed tightly wrapped blocks of powder concealed within three bottles of Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve, four packs of Marlboro Red 100 cigarettes, and four large containers of chocolate snacks.
It’s noted that he collaborated with a former colleague—another security guard who had also worked for seven years—who provided cocaine bricks before their flights.
If convicted, Arias Caceres could face a minimum of 10 years in prison, with the possibility of life behind bars.
Michael McCarthy, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, highlighted that the investigation effectively dismantled a complex human trafficking network responsible for transporting dangerous drugs from the Dominican Republic to the U.S.
He emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting Americans by targeting and disrupting cross-border criminal organizations involved in drug smuggling.
