Popular Latina singer and winner of Latin American Idol, Martha Heredia was detained last Wednesday while at Cibao International Airport in the northern city of Santiago, Dominican Republic after being discovered with having heroin in her possession.
The 22-year-old Dominican Republic singer who gained recognition back in 2009 was preparing to board a flight on February 20th. While waiting, Heredia was searched and unfortunately discovered to be carrying nearly two kilos (around 2.9 pounds) of heroin hidden in the heels of three of her shoes packed inside of her baggage.
After the discovery was made, airport authorities had Heredia undergo X-Ray tests to see if the singer had any more drugs hidden inside of her body. Nothing was found. Director of Santiago’s National Drug Control Agency, Frank Duran stated that Heredia went under an interrogation while held in custody to determine whether the star was working as a mule for a drug-trafficking organization.
Earning fame because of her voice with a bubbly personality to match, Heredia’s career has taken somewhat of a stall while her personal life has undergone some hurdles. In 2010, the singer was involved in traffic accident that claimed the life of a teenager; the teenager’s family eventually sued Heredia for the fatal accident.
Recently, Heredia made claims of suffering physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her hip-hop husband, Vakero. The allegation made by Heredia has resulted in Vakero’s arrest who is being held without bail.
According to reports made by Univision.com, Judge Deyanira Méndez in Santiago has accepted a request made by the Attorney General for the singer to be held in prison for up to a year while authorities investigate whether or not Heredia is involved with drug-trafficking. Aside from the request, Heredia faces more than 10 years in prison.
On Tuesday, Heredia was transferred to El Centro de Corrección y Rehabilitación Rafey Mujeres de Santiago where she will undergo a 10 to 30 day observation and evaluation period. The director of the center has been quoted stating that Heredia is undergoing medical, psychological, and educational evaluation which is the intake protocols for the center in order to determine the best treatment for every patient which now includes the singer.
The story is still developing.
