A DEA supervisor in the Dominican Republic has been arrested as part of a federal investigation into abuse of a U.S. visa program for confidential informants, according to current and former U.S. officials. The arrest prompted the Trump administration to abruptly shutter the anti-narcotics office in the Caribbean nation.

The closure follows allegations of a “disgusting and disgraceful violation of public trust” involving misuse of official capacity for personal gain. Melitón Cordero was taken into custody by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, though details remain limited. U.S. Ambassador Leah F. Campos announced the DEA office closure without providing specific reasons.

The Dominican Republic serves as a major transit zone for narcotics leaving South America, with U.S. law enforcement agencies sponsoring hundreds of foreign nationals annually for entry under confidential informant programs. A 2019 Justice Department watchdog report found law enforcement had lost track of as many as 1,000 sponsored individuals, raising concerns about public safety and national security risks.