Dominican Republic judges impose sanctions in illegal arms trafficking case

Judges in the National District and Santo Domingo Este have imposed economic guarantees and other coercion measures against owners and representatives of various gun shops arrested during ‘Operación Armum’. The operation, conducted by the Public Ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, Interior and Police, and the National Police, targeted the illicit commercialization and intermediation of firearms and ammunition.

Specific financial guarantees include 4 million pesos for Braulio Veras Rodríguez, 3.5 million for Henry Leónidas Tejeda Peralta, and 3 million for Alexis Díaz Rodríguez. Other individuals, including Manuel de los Santos Acevedo and Jonathan Méndez Decena, were ordered to provide 2 million pesos each, while Wilmer Brahian Florentino and Benito Alifonso Quezada must provide 1 million pesos each. Additional individuals in Santo Domingo Este received guarantees of 500,000 pesos.

In addition to financial requirements, the defendants face travel bans and must periodically present themselves to the Public Ministry. The legal proceedings are based on Law 631-16 for the Control and Regulation of Weapons, which carries potential prison sentences of 10 to 20 years. Involved businesses include Gestiones de Armas de Fuego Braulio S. R. L., Tejeda Álvarez y Asociados SRL, Armería Braihan, Armería Los Cocolos, Armería Gavilán, Armería Eliezel, and Los Héctor y Joso Eirl.