Reinaldo Fuentes, 68, a Venezuelan drug dealer known as ‘Taliban,’ died in the Caribbean Sea near Martinique. Fuentes, who was entangled in a drug battle, was handcuffed, gagged, and tied to an anchor before being flung into the merciless waters. But who was this fascinating character, and what brought him to this dreadful fate? Who is drug lord ‘Taliban’?
Fuentes had pulled off a daring theft, seizing a cartel’s enormous 450-pound cocaine shipment worth a whopping $10 million and fleeing with the cash. After initially abandoning the drugs at sea, he fabricated a fictional coast guard pursuit to justify his inability to deliver the cocaine to his superiors. His bold strategy, however, collapsed when his associates turned informants, ultimately sealing his doom.
The tragic scene was captured on film and published on social media. Fuentes, injured and shackled, glanced at the camera before being hurled overboard. His hands were zip-tied to ensure his demise as a result of the wicked conduct.
His executioners have yet to be identified, with one heard on film warning them not to show their faces. The motivation for this heinous deed was clear: vengeance for the stolen cocaine.
Fuentes had been living under the alias Miguel Fulcar in the Dominican Republic, thanks to a forged national identification paper. He appeared to have a normal life, dating a prominent lawyer and caring for her daughter in Bonao.
His criminal history began in Venezuela, where he gained the moniker ‘Taliban’ for his illegal activities with Middle Eastern narcotics smugglers. Two of his friends were killed in a gunfight with police in Buenos Aires, and a stash of firearms found from a Bonao apartment was allegedly linked to Fuentes.
On July 14, the 68-year-old began his perilous adventure when he entered the Dominican Republic. On July 17, he was persuaded to a cartel meeting, where he was abducted and later dumped at sea.
His criminal career began in Venezuela, where he earned the moniker ‘Taliban’ for his unlawful dealings with Middle Eastern drug dealers. Two of his companions were slain in Buenos Aires during a gunfight with police, and a stash of weaponry discovered in a Bonao apartment was allegedly linked to Fuentes.
The 68-year-old began his risky journey on July 14 when he entered the Dominican Republic. He was persuaded to attend a cartel meeting on July 17, where he was abducted and later discarded at sea.
