Dominican Republic Seizes Record 9.5 Tons of Cocaine at Port

In a landmark drug bust, the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD) confiscated 9,588 kilograms of cocaine at the Multimodal Caucedo Port in Boca Chica, Santo Domingo. This operation marks the largest single cocaine seizure in the history of the Dominican Republic.

The illicit cargo, with an estimated street value of $250 million, was hidden within a shipment of bananas that had arrived from Guatemala.

Acting on intelligence reports, DNCD agents were conducting a targeted inspection of several flagged containers in transit. While profiling these containers, agents detected unusual activity around two of them. Upon inspection, one container was found empty, but the second held a shipment of bananas concealing 320 sacks filled with cocaine.

According to DNCD, several unidentified individuals were caught in the process of repackaging the drugs into another container bound for Belgium. Authorities are currently investigating around ten suspects believed to be connected to the smuggling operation.

The Dominican Republic has become a critical transit hub for drug shipments moving from South America to Europe. In 2024 alone, authorities reported the seizure of approximately 41.6 tons of illegal drugs. This latest operation underscores the nation's ongoing battle against international drug trafficking networks.