Dominican Republic officials seek DEA’s help in searching for small jet that went missing

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic _ The Dominican Republic has asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help in tracking down a small jet that never reached its destination.

National Drug Control Agency Director Julio Cesar Souffront said Friday that he is working with DEA officials to find the jet and determine whether it was used for drug trafficking. Officials also have asked authorities in Venezuela and Colombia for assistance.

Air traffic controllers lost contact with the twin-engine Hawker Siddeley jet late Wednesday after it took off with a flight plan to Punta Cana. The plane had only two people on board and was registered to a company based in Dover, Delaware.