He Caucedo Multimodal Port, Located in the municipality of Boca Chica, Santo Domingo province, it has become a strategic point for international traffic of drugsusing the Dominican Republic as a bridge to other destinations. This was evidenced this Friday with the seizure of the largest shipment so far: 9.5 tons of alleged cocaine.
Due to the amount of drugs seized in the port, the Dominican authorities, in collaboration with international organizations, have intensified security measures in recent days. These actions include strengthening surveillance, implementing advanced technologies for inspections and strengthening control in port operations, seeking to reduce the use of the country as a bridge for international drug trafficking.
In less than a month, the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) has seized two of the three largest shipments of drugs registered in the country. The third shipment, which until this Friday was considered the largest, was seized in 2006. All of these operations have taken place in the aforementioned port.
This Fridaythe authorities reported on the seizure of 9.5 tons of drugsequivalent to 9,558 packages, with an estimated value of approximately 250 million dollars. The substance was found in two containers, one of them loaded with bananas.
The operation lasted more than 20 hours, after an intelligence alert alerted agents about unusual movements in one of the blocks of the port terminal. This alert made it possible to coordinate a strategic deployment to inspect and secure the area, which culminated in the seizure.
The drug supposedly comes from Guatemala and was destined to reach Belgium, in Europe.
“The first investigations indicate that the container loaded with bananas arrived in the country from Guatemala and, as established, several still unidentified individuals were trying to transfer the consignment to another container that would be loaded on a ship bound for Belgium,” he explained. Carlos Deversspokesperson for the DNCD.
The shipment was transferred under strict security measures, guarded by a helicopter and dozens of anti-drug agents. The operation included a coordinated deployment that guaranteed the safe transfer of the cache to the headquarters of the National Directorate of Control of Drugs (DNCD) in the National District.
The institution broadcast the process live through its social networks, showing the magnitude of the operation and its commitment to the fight against drug trafficking.
Ten port employees arrested
At the moment, the authorities are investigating ten port workers and have expressed their intention to identify the owners of the cargo.
The investigation of these people is in charge of the Public Ministryhey the DNCD. However, the spokesperson for the anti-narcotics department did not specify whether military or police officers were among those detained.
2.2 tons occupied on November 9
On Saturday, November 9, the authorities reported that they seized 2,198 packages of suspected cocaine, weighing approximately 2.2 tons, at the Caucedo Multimodal Port. This is considered the third largest shipment seized in the country.
The shipment was hidden in boxes of clothing and sports shoes, wrapped in different colored adhesive tape.
The operation, which lasted more than 12 hours, included the inspection of dozens of containers in transit through the country. X-ray machines detected suspicious images on one of the containers, allowing the drugs to be located.
Second largest seizure in 2006
The largest shipment recorded before this case occurred in 2006, when 2.5 tons of cocaine, a total of 2,582 kilograms, were seized.
65.7 with international cooperation
So far this year, authorities have seized 41.6 tons of drugs, while, with international cooperation, they have seized 65.7 tons.
