Elvin Florián, the evidence manager at the Prosecutor’s Office in Barahona, has been arrested and placed in preventive detention for three months after being accused of stealing firearms and other valuable evidence from the Public Ministry’s storage facility. The arrest was confirmed by Barahona’s Chief Prosecutor, Wellington Matos Espinal, who revealed that an internal investigation uncovered the disappearance of six firearms connected to various judicial cases.

Florián was taken into custody following an audit that revealed the initial disappearance of two firearms from the evidence room. Upon discovering these irregularities, Prosecutor Matos launched a deeper investigation, which unearthed additional thefts of firearms and other crucial evidence. “It was found that this individual had improperly handled evidence, leading to the disappearance of several items,” Matos stated.

The investigation further revealed that Florián had been involved in the theft for approximately a year. Among the stolen items were not only firearms, but also wallets, ID cards, and other evidence tied to ongoing cases. Authorities suspect that some of the stolen firearms were sold to third parties, adding to the gravity of the charges against Florián.

Florián was promptly dismissed from his position as the evidence manager after the theft was discovered. He is currently being held in preventive detention at Barahona’s public prison, while authorities continue to investigate the full scope of his actions and work to recover the missing evidence.

This incident has shaken the Barahona Prosecutor’s Office, raising serious concerns about the security protocols and management of evidence in critical cases. Prosecutor Wellington Matos has vowed to see the investigation through, assuring the public that justice will be served both within the institution and the broader community.