# Dominican Republic drug crackdown expands > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-expands-crackdown-on-illicit-healthrisk-trade-seizing-illegal-rum-operation > Updated: 2026-08-06T19:26:54.000Z. Sources: 201. Developments: 26. The multi‑agency security campaign that began in early July 2026 has intensified. Coordinated raids in June seized thousands of grams of cocaine, marijuana, crack and other narcotics in Santiago, Verón‑Punta Cana, Barahona, Santo Domingo Este and other districts, arresting dozens of suspects and confiscating cash, weapons and processing equipment. A series of operations dismantled the country’s largest marijuana cultivations in San José de Ocoa, first seizing more than 3 500 plants (≈3 200 lb) and later confirming a record‑size plantation of over 13 800 lb, with total eradications exceeding 18 000 plants. In July, authorities destroyed more than 1 144 kg of narcotics—including 928 kg of marijuana and 213 kg of cocaine—at a military camp in Pedro Brand, and seized additional kilos in separate raids across the capital and provincial cities. International cooperation grew as two Dominican nationals were extradited to the United States on cocaine‑trafficking charges, and a joint operation at Las Américas International Airport led to the arrest of airport staff and the seizure of 90 cocaine packages. Operation LGTCA in August targeted a transnational network on the eastern coast, resulting in 11 arrests and the capture of vehicles, boats and communication gear. Authorities also warned that the southern provinces (San José de Ocoa, Barahona, Bahoruco, Tamayo and Vicente Noble) are becoming a major corridor for Colombian and Venezuelan cartels using fast boats and light aircraft. Local residents report rising extortion and land‑grab attempts while police presence remains limited. The crackdown is accompanied by renewed criticism of police‑reform spending, with former legislator Ramón Ceballos demanding mandatory psychological assessments for officers, and revelations that an informant turned cyber‑criminal after serving a U.S. prison term. The combined drug‑seizure operations, large‑scale marijuana eradications, extraditions and the focus on southern‑coast trafficking routes illustrate the expanding scope of the Dominican Republic’s anti‑drug campaign. ## Claims - Authorities seized ten vehicles of different models. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The dismantled network received drug shipments from South America and redistributed them to Puerto Rico. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The network's operational base was on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic between the Chavón River mouth and Bayahíbe. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Fourteen simultaneous raids were conducted in properties in La Altagracia, La Romana and Puerto Plata. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Approximately eleven people were arrested during the operation. (corroborated by 6 sources) - More than 300 agents and 18 prosecutors participated in the operation. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Ten members of the organization were identified, some with prior convictions for drug trafficking in Puerto Rico. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The Ministry of Public Prosecution and the DNCD dismantled an international drug trafficking network. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-06: Dominican Republic authorities dismantle international drug trafficking network Dominican authorities dismantled an international drug trafficking network in the eastern coastal region through Operation LGTCA, arresting 11 people and seizing vehicles and boats. 70 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-police-arrest-suspects-in-theft-and-drug-trafficking-cases ### 2026-07-20: Dominican Republic's Southern Coast Faces Escalating Drug Trafficking Threat International cartels are using the Dominican Republic’s southern coast, including Ocoa and Barahona, to smuggle cocaine and marijuana, prompting large drug seizures and raising fears of crime and extortion in 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republics-southern-coast-faces-escalating-drug-trafficking-threat ### 2026-07-18: Dominican Republic confronts drug‑trafficking cybercrime and police reform waste A Dominican informant detailed US heroin smuggling via cheese and a shift to cyber fraud, while ex‑lawyer Ramón Ceballos decried a 11‑billion‑peso police reform as wasteful and ineffective. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-confronts-drugtrafficking-cybercrime-and-police-reform-waste ### 2026-07-15: Dominican Republic police seize over 2 kg crack and cocaine in Santiago apartment Dominican police arrested a drug dealer in Santiago, seizing over 2 kg of crack, 820 g of cocaine and cash worth over a million pesos. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-police-seize-over-2-kg-crack-and-cocaine-in-santiago-apartment ### 2026-07-12: Dominican Republic courts free three suspects in marijuana plantation, sentence another to 10 years Dominican courts released three suspects after a large marijuana plantation bust in El Pinar, while another defendant received a 10‑year term for trafficking 20 lb of cannabis in Las Matas de Farfán. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-courts-free-three-suspects-in-marijuana-plantation-sentence-another-to-10-years ### 2026-07-11: Dominican Republic drug crackdown yields 20 arrests, 9 kg seized and two suspects extradited to the U.S Dominican drug raids detained 20 people, seized over 9 kg of narcotics and uncovered 83 hidden cocaine pills; two suspects were extradited to the U.S. on trafficking charges. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/two-dominicans-extradited-to-the-united-states-on-drugtrafficking-charges ### 2026-07-09: Dominican Republic ramps up drug seizures and destroys over a ton of narcotics Dominican Republic agencies destroyed over a ton of drugs, seized large marijuana farms, captured a cocaine‑smuggling suspect and intercepted multiple marijuana shipments. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-authorities-seize-2500-kg-hash-in-huelva-and-bust-indoor-cannabis-farms-in-granada ### 2026-07-05: Dominican Republic police bust illicit alcohol plant, seize 32 kg of drugs Dominican authorities dismantled a clandestine alcohol plant producing over 25,000 L of adulterated liquor in Azua and, in simultaneous raids across four provinces, arrested 123 people and seized more than 32 k 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-police-bust-illicit-alcohol-plant-seize-32-kg-of-drugs ### 2026-07-04: Dominican Republic drug agency seizes over 10 kg cocaine, arrests suspects Dominican Republic's DNCD seized over 10 kg of drugs in the capital and arrested two airport staff linked to 90 cocaine packages, while detaining 21 people overall. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-drug-agency-seizes-over-10-kg-cocaine-arrests-suspects ### 2026-07-04: Dominican Republic arrests two airport staff in major cocaine seizure Dominican officials arrested two airport employees after seizing 90 cocaine packages at Las Américas airport; five others remain detained as investigations continue. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-arrests-airport-staff-in-90package-cocaine-seizure ### 2026-07-01: Dominican police launch sweeping arrests and investigations into homicide, fraud, and drug crime Dominican police arrested suspects for homicide, illegal weapons and robbery, busted a Colombian fraud ring, probed a merchant murder, released a national security statistics bulletin, and seized large drug ha​ 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-police-seize-914-kg-of-narcotics-in-june-raids ### 2026-06-30: Dominican nationals face US deportation and extradition over robbery and meth trafficking A Dominican convicted of a slot‑machine robbery scheme will be deported, while another Dominican was extradited to the US on meth‑trafficking charges, highlighting US‑Dominican law‑enforcement cooperation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-nationals-face-us-deportation-and-extradition-over-robbery-and-meth-trafficking ### 2026-06-27: Dominican police arrest 100 in massive drug bust in Santo Domingo Este Dominican police arrested 100 people and seized over 28 kg of cocaine, marijuana and crack in a sweep across Santo Domingo Este. 99 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/police-in-gualeguaych-recover-stolen-motorcycle-seize-vehicles-and-arrest-multiple-suspects ### 2026-06-24: Dominican Republic: San José de Ocoa confirmed as site of massive marijuana bust Dominican police seized over 18,000 marijuana plants in remote mountains, confirming the crop was in San José de Ocoa province despite earlier claims it was in Azua; three suspects detained and surveillance is 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-san-jos-de-ocoa-confirmed-as-site-of-massive-marijuana-bust ### 2026-06-21: Dominican Republic police dismantle record‑size marijuana plantation in San José de Ocoa Dominican police bust a record 13,800‑lb marijuana plantation; Argentine raids seize cannabis, cocaine and firearms; Dominican authorities dismantle a clandestine alcohol factory and convict traffickers; other 20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-police-seize-record-marijuana-crop-arrest-six-in-san-juan ### 2026-06-18: Dominican police seize 749 drug portions in Santiago and Sosúa arrests Dominican police arrested Yefry Pérez in Santiago with 443 drug portions and Daniel Urbáez Pérez in Sosúa with 306 portions, seizing cash and a phone. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-police-seize-749-drug-portions-in-santiago-and-sosa-arrests ### 2026-06-16: Dominican Republic police seize drugs, arrest suspects and launch new anti‑drug measures Dominican police seized hundreds of cocaine doses, weapons and cash while hunting fugitive ‘Wilkyns Gatillo’; nationwide raids confiscated over 10 kg of drugs and arrested 45 suspects, and the DNCD launched a ​ 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-drug-agency-opens-whatsapp-tip-line-seizes-10-kg-of-narcotics-in-santiago-raids ### 2026-06-14: Dominican Republic police seize 1.7 kg cocaine in Santo Domingo drug bust Dominican police raids in Santo Domingo’s Distrito Nacional arrested six drug suspects and seized about 1.7 kg cocaine, 242 g marijuana, crack and related equipment. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-police-seize-17-kg-cocaine-in-santo-domingo-drug-bust ### 2026-06-12: Dominican Republic, Mexico and Argentina record large drug busts and arrests Police in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Argentina, Honduras, Kuwait and Mauritius seize drugs, firearms and equipment in coordinated busts, detaining dozens and destroying large cocaine, fentanyl and coca cro 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/drug-busts-seize-hundreds-of-grams-of-cocaine-in-dominican-republic-and-costa-rica ### 2026-06-11: Dominican and Costa Rican Nationals Extradited to U.S. Over Cocaine Trafficking Dominican Missaelle Morales Silvestre and Costa Rican Gilbert Bell Fernández were extradited to the U.S. on cocaine‑trafficking charges, highlighting increased Caribbean‑U.S. cooperation against drug networks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-and-costa-rican-nationals-extradited-to-us-over-cocaine-trafficking ### 2026-06-10: Dominican Republic courts hand 10‑year sentences to drug traffickers as authorities destroy nearly 20 million illegal ​‑ Dominican courts give 10‑year terms to a drug‑trafficking ring and confiscate assets, while a ministry operation destroys nearly 20 million illegal cigarettes, medicines, alcohol and stimulants worth RD$394 M. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-courts-hand-10year-sentences-to-drug-traffickers-as-authorities-destroy-nearly-20 ### 2026-06-08: Dominican authorities dismantle largest marijuana plantation in San José de Ocoa Dominican drug police and the Ministry of Public dismantled a marijuana farm of over 3,500 plants in San José de Ocoa, seizing equipment, arresting two Haitians and a Dominican, and sending the crop to forensic 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-authorities-dismantle-largest-marijuana-plantation-in-san-jos-de-ocoa ### 2026-06-05: Dominican Republic authorities seize thousands of grams of drugs in coordinated raids Dominican Republic's DNCD and Public Ministry seized over 5,400 g of cocaine, marijuana and crack in coordinated raids, arresting 14 suspects and confiscating weapons and equipment. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/drug-busts-seize-39-kg-narcotics-in-dominican-republic-72-kg-cocaine-in-guatemala ### 2026-06-04: Dominican nationals charged in US federal cocaine smuggling case in Puerto Rico Three Dominican men were indicted in Puerto Rico for a conspiracy to import 178 kg of cocaine, facing drug‑trafficking and immigration charges. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-nationals-charged-in-us-federal-cocaine-smuggling-case-in-puerto-rico ### 2026-06-03: Dominican Republic police seize thousands of grams of drugs in multi‑city raids Dominican police raids in Santiago, Punta Cana and Barahona seized thousands of grams of cocaine, marijuana and crack, arresting dozens and confiscating weapons and cash. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-police-seize-over-900-g-of-drugs-and-arrest-five-in-punta-cana ### 2026-05-06: Dominican Republic pushes crackdown on illicit trade harming health Dominican Republic targets illicit trade in medicines, alcohol and cigarettes, citing health risks and economic losses. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-pushes-crackdown-on-illicit-trade-harming-health --- Cite as: Dominican Republic drug crackdown expands. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-expands-crackdown-on-illicit-healthrisk-trade-seizing-illegal-rum-operation