Former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Luis Castillo are both reportedly involved in a drug trafficking ring in their native Dominican Republic (DR).
The two have also been linked to a money laundering network, according to DR attorney general Jean Rodriguez. Dotel was arrested in a sting that’s being billed as the “largest operation against organized crime” in the history of the Dominican Republic. The authorities are still searching for Castillo.
Rodríguez said police are also actively pursuing the alleged leader of the ring, César Emilio Peralta, also known as “César the Abuser.”
At least 15 people have been arrested in the case, Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez said.
Details are still incomplete, but reports are emerging about the alleged crimes and what sort of properties have been seized.
CDN.com reported that much of the drug trafficking business was being conducted from inside nightclubs.
Dominican authorities claim both Dotel, 45, and Castillo, 43, were members of a powerful drug gang that got dismantled Tuesday. There were 20 luxury apartments, 15 nightclubs and 10 restaurants seized, according to Antonio Puesan. Periodista Deportivo’s Hector Gomez added that Dotel had four cars seized.
“The truth is my country no longer works, my God, do you think that after making millions of dollars in Baseball I am going to dirty my hands with drugs?” Castillo wrote on Instagram.
Dotel was 59-50 with a career 3.78 ERA in a 15-year career. He played for 13 major league teams, formerly the all-time record, since passed by Edwin Jackson. He broke in with the Mets in 1999 and pitched for the Yankees in 2006.
Castillo — not the current Cincinnati Reds ace — was also arrested. The three-time All-Star has been retired since 2010, after batting .290 over a 14-year career playing infield for the Mets, Blue Jays, Marlins and Twins.
It’s not clear what specific charges the two former baseball stars are facing.
