Anti-narcotics authorities in the Dominican Republic seized a significant 2.2-ton shipment of cocaine on Saturday, marking the country’s second-largest cocaine bust on record.
The cocaine was discovered at the Multimodal Caucedo Port, hidden inside a container originating from Panama, with Belgium marked as its final destination. In a statement, the Dominican National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) emphasized that this major interception underscores the country’s commitment to tackling illegal drug trafficking. “This is the second-largest cocaine shipment seized in the Dominican Republic, showcasing our determination to firmly and decisively disrupt criminal structures attempting to use Dominican territory for illegal activities,” the DNCD noted.
Following intelligence reports, DNCD agents, alongside other security units, conducted an extensive inspection of dozens of containers in transit through the port. Using X-ray machines, officers detected irregularities in one container, which led them to open it. Inside, they discovered 2,198 packets of cocaine, wrapped in various colored tape and hidden among shipments of sportswear and shoes.
The DNCD highlighted that, with the support of the Dominican Armed Forces, the Attorney General’s Office, state intelligence agencies, and international cooperation, they are implementing new strategies to combat the trafficking of controlled substances. According to the DNCD, these measures have led to “significant blows” against international drug networks this year.
