Dr. Meliton
Cordero
Dr. Meliton Cordero is a Special Agent Advisor to the Sensitive Investigations Unit in the DEA Santo Domingo Country Office, Caribbean Division. In this capacity, Agent Cordero advises an elite investigative unit of the Dominican Republic National Drug Directorate (DNCD-SIU) responsible for investigating the high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and transnational criminal organizations (TCO) in the Dominican Republic with strong U.S. nexus. Prior to serving in the Santo Domingo Country Office, Agent Cordero worked in the New Jersey Division (NJD) in the Financial Investigations Group and later the Heroin Investigations Group. During that tenure, Agent Cordero investigated multiple TCOs operating in the greater New Jersey area. One such investigation being the international drug and money TCO: Operation Cibao’s Checks. During that complex conspiracy investigation, Agent Cordero worked with foreign counterparts and Agents in the Special Operations Division, New York, Florida; Hong Kong, Dubai, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic to investigate emerging trends in the movement of illicit drug proceeds through U.S. and foreign financial institutions. This investigation was supported by the NJD Attorney General Exempted Operation (AGEO) and resulted in the arrest and extradition of the first-ever Consolidated Priority Organizational Target (CPOT) in the history of the New Jersey and Caribbean Divisions. Previously, Agent Cordero worked in the DEA San Juan Office of the Caribbean Division where he investigated micro drug trafficking, maritime drug smuggling, and TCOs. During this tenure, Agent Cordero led the first-ever crystal methamphetamine investigation in the history of the Caribbean Division, which lead to the arrest of the sources of supply in Puerto Rico and the Sinaloa Cartel-linked source of supply in Los Angeles, California among the other 15 members of the TCO. During this investigation, Agent Cordero drafted and initiated the first WhatsApp wire and electronic intercept in the District of Puerto Rico. Agent Cordero also worked closely with the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) based in Key West, Florida and coordinated strategic U.S. , foreign partner, and foreign counterpart assets to interdict go-fast vessels originating in Colombia and Venezuela and destined for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with 300 to 1,800 kilograms of cocaine per vessel. Agent Cordero holds specialized training in complex conspiracies, money laundering, and financial investigations. Agent Cordero holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Doctorate in Public Safety - Criminal Justice. Agent Cordero continues to mentor and work with Agents in various DEA offices throughout the world.