Dominican Republic deportations surge as Spain police bust migrant smuggling routes

The Dominican Republic’s Directorate General of Migration reported that over a weekend its inter‑diction operations detained 2,944 foreign nationals, of whom 2,856 were deported for lacking legal status. Detentions occurred in the Greater Santo Domingo area and across numerous provinces, with deportees sent back through border posts in Dajabón, El Ías Piña, Jimaní and Pedernales.

In Spain, police uncovered new smuggling routes that bring Indian and Pakistani migrants from Finland and Denmark to Barcelona. Following raids in the vicinities of Vic and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 18 individuals were arrested and a criminal network dismantled. The operation highlighted how mafias forge false documents to exploit Spain’s regularisation programme, prompting continued investigations despite the programme’s deadline having passed.