Arrests 253 people and seizes more than 75 kilos of drugs in Greater Santo Domingo

The National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD) is intensifying its operations against the sale and distribution of controlled substances in Greater Santo Domingo. See images from the most recent intervention, in which several micro-trafficking points were dismantled. / (DNCD social media) The National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD) reported that it seized more than 75 kilos of suspected narcotics and arrested 253 people during an offensive against micro-trafficking carried out in Greater Santo Domingo. The deployment included 1,478 operations and 28 raids, with support from the Public Prosecutor's Office and the National Police. The interventions were carried out simultaneously in the National District and in the municipalities of Santo Domingo Este, Santo Domingo Norte, Santo Domingo Oeste, and Boca Chica. According to the agency, those arrested are believed to be individuals linked to points of sale and distribution of controlled substances in various neighborhoods of the Dominican capital. The total seized amounted to 75,622.20 grams of drugs, according to the official report. The largest portion corresponded to 64,651.80 grams of a white powder that authorities suspect is cocaine. Also confiscated were 7,795.90 grams of a plant substance presumed to be marijuana and 3,174.50 grams of rocky material, allegedly crack. The DNCD arrested 253 people during the operation to combat micro-trafficking in Santo Domingo. / (DNCD social media) In addition to the substances, agents seized four firearms: two rifles, one pistol, and one shotgun. The DNCD report also recorded the confiscation of 55 scales used for weighing drugs, 77 cell phones, and 16 communication radios. The list of seized items included two vehicles, three motorcycles, one bulletproof vest, and two slot machines. The authorities also seized RD$135,355 (USD 2,235.22) and USD 3 in cash, which were placed under custody as part of the investigations opened following the operations. The substances were packaged and sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif), which must determine their composition and definitive weight. Those arrested will remain in the custody of the Public Prosecutor's Office for the corresponding judicial proceedings. The official strategy combines the pursuit of micro-trafficking in the neighborhoods with maritime and port control. / (DNCD social media) The operation in Greater Santo Domingo came after other interventions carried out this week by the anti-drug agency. On October 9, the DNCD reported that it seized 4,919.2 grams of suspected drugs during 16 raids in Santo Domingo Oeste, Pedro Brand, and Los Alcarrizos. In that case, eight people were arrested. According to data from that operation, the authorities seized 4,782.5 grams of a substance they suspect is cocaine, 109.6 grams of marijuana, and 27.1 grams of crack. They also seized two assault rifles, ammunition, GPS tracking devices, portable radios, cell phones, scales, and cash. In another recent action against drug trafficking, security agencies intercepted a boat in waters near Baní, in Peravia province, and seized 389 packages of suspected cocaine. Two Dominican men were arrested during the procedure, which lasted more than 12 hours, according to local media. The main seizure included more than 64 kilos of suspected cocaine along with shipments of marijuana and crack and other supplies. / (DNCD social media) The maritime operation was deployed after intelligence agencies detected a vessel heading toward the Dominican coast south of Punta Salinas. The DNCD, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and other security agencies are maintaining investigations to establish the origin and destination of the shipment. In February, the agency had also reported the discovery of 69 packages of suspected cocaine hidden in the doors and floor of a container loaded with metals at the Caucedo Multimodal Port, in Boca Chica. The shipment was destined for Belgium and was detected following an inspection of the container's structure. The recent actions show that the official strategy combines interventions against micro-trafficking in neighborhoods of Greater Santo Domingo with controls at ports and maritime patrols to detect shipments destined for international trafficking. The investigations continue under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the DNCD.