Dominican Republic authorities face reports of trafficking ring recruiting citizens for Russian war

The Dominican Human Rights Committee (CDDH) and families of victims have filed a formal complaint with the Attorney General's Office regarding a human trafficking network recruiting Dominicans for combat in foreign war zones.

According to the complaint, the network has allegedly recruited over 150 individuals through false job offers. Victims are promised lucrative roles as mechanics, welders, drivers, or logistics support. However, once they arrive in Europe, they are reportedly stripped of their passports and identity documents and subjected to coercive military training before being sent to the front lines, primarily in Russia and the Donbas region.

Carlos Manuel Sánchez Díaz, CDDH coordinator, noted that the scheme targets economically vulnerable populations. In the municipality of Bajos de Haina alone, approximately 50 people have been documented as having left the country under this scheme and are currently trapped in the conflict.