Worker arrested for people smuggling
Published:Thursday | December 11, 2008 | 9:30 AM
An employee at the Consulate of the Dominican Republic in New York has been arrested on people smuggling charges.
He is said to have used his and his family\'s diplomatic visas to bring dozens of illegal aliens into the United States.
US immigration agents say Francisco Estevez held a visa that allowed him and his family members to enter and reside in the US.
In addition, they were all entitled to receive expedited process at passport control at the airport.
The authorities claim he used this access to open the door to a lucrative smuggling enterprise.
They said that between October 2007 and July 2008, Mr Estevez smuggled groups of Dominicans into the US on average of twice a month, charging about US$10,000 per person.