HOLY SUNDAY.-The Dominican authorities seized 1,497 packages of cocaine, equivalent to more than 1.5 tons, during a joint operation carried out this Thursday on the coast of Baní, Peravia province, in what is considered the largest drug seizure of the year and one of the largest in the last two decades in the country.
According to a source linked to the investigation, the vessel would have set sail from La Guajira, a coastal area between Venezuela and Colombia, and was detected on the high seas by the United States Southern Command, which immediately alerted the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD).
After receiving the alert, the authorities activated a large device with air, sea and land units, which lasted more than 12 hours of pursuit.
The final intervention occurred several nautical miles south of Punta Salinas, where an Eduardono-type speedboat, 40 feet long and equipped with two engines of 200 horsepower each, was intercepted.
Inside the boat, 60 bales containing 1,497 packages of the substance were found. In the operation, two Dominicans and a Colombian were arrested, in addition to seizing five fuel tanks, a satellite phone, a cell phone, personal documents and other evidence.
The packages were sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif), under chain of custody, to determine the exact type and weight of the shipment.
This seizure surpasses the one made in June of this year, when the DNCD seized 1,420 packages of cocaine on the coast of San Pedro de Macorís during an operation that included an exchange of gunfire.
DR and US Cooperation
The operation is part of the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and the exchange of information between the United States and the Dominican Republic, a link that has been strengthened in recent months.
During his visit to the National Palace last Wednesday, the Secretary of War of the United States, Pete Hegseth, highlighted that his country “came to support its main ally in the fight against drugs and insecurity in the region,” recognizing the strategic role of the Dominican Republic.
Hegseth stated that “the Dominican Republic and President Luis Abinader are the regional leader against drug trafficking,” pointing out that the progress made in recent years is the result of effective cooperation and a firm will of the Dominican Government to confront transnational organized crime.
Likewise, he guaranteed that the United States will continue to expand its collaboration “fully respecting Dominican laws and sovereignty,” and valued the alliance as a regional model.
For his part, President Luis Abinader highlighted the historic results achieved by the country in the fight against drug trafficking, attributing the progress to the strengthening of cooperation with the United States and the joint actions that will now be temporarily expanded to reinforce air and maritime surveillance.
Aerial tracking
1,290 packages of drugs.
They were seized by Dominican authorities in mid-November on the coast of Pedernales.
Start of Operation Southern Spear
Combat. The seizure of 484 packages of cocaine during a joint operation carried out last Saturday the 15th off the coast of Pedernales marked the official start of Operation Southern Spear, announced by the United States Government.
The strategy, presented by United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, consists of a large-scale military operation against narcoterrorism in Latin America, designed to strengthen cooperation, specialized equipment and real-time information exchange with the main allies in the region.
Its main objective is to combat drug trafficking cartels, especially the Cartel de los Soles.
