Drug raid nets politician and border patrol officer

A POLICE  DRUG raid   that netted  a  Colon  politician and an  officer of the border security force (SENAN) along with four others, won praise from President Juan Carlos Varela on Thursday, September 3.

He said that the arrests show that there is a “zero tolerance” policy toward corruption and organized crime.

“We are going to purge the police force and the political class of any links to drug trafficking,” he said.

During the operation called “Piedra Negra,” Police arrested Senan Lt. Francisco Salazar and the representative of Viento Frío, Jaramillo Hidalgo, a member of the PRD.

Authorities also seized four firearms, three cars and $2,218.

In the first phase of this operation last week, police confiscated 305 kilos of cocaine, $129,000 in cash and five vehicles. They also arrested nine people.

The investigation had been underway for four months.