Dominican Republic: San José de Ocoa confirmed as site of massive marijuana bust

Dominican authorities seized more than 18,000 marijuana plants in a remote mountainous area of the south‑central region. The operation, carried out by the Dirección Nacional de Control de Drogas, focused on plots near the community of El Pinar, including the sectors of Sabaneta (Los Corozos) and La Cueva. Investigators used GPS equipment to pinpoint the exact location, concluding that the cultivated area lies within the jurisdiction of the province of San José de Ocoa, despite earlier claims that it was in neighboring Azua.

Three suspects have been detained while prosecutors seek preventive detention. Officials highlighted the difficulty of accessing the terrain and called for continuous aerial surveillance to prevent the re‑establishment of illicit crops in the border area that straddles several provinces. The dispute over provincial boundaries has sparked local controversy, with community leaders urging clarification to protect the reputation of San José de Ocoa, an area known for agricultural production rather than drug cultivation.