The Dominican Republic’s National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) seized a historic shipment of 2,198 packages of suspected cocaine, weighing approximately 2.2 tons, at the Multimodal Caucedo Port on Saturday. This operation marks the second-largest drug seizure in the country’s history, highlighting the strategic importance of this port as a key point in the international trafficking of illicit substances.

The shipment was cleverly concealed in boxes of clothing and sports shoes, wrapped in adhesive tape of various colors—a tactic used to make detection more difficult. According to the DNCD, the packages originated in Panama and were destined for the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, emphasizing the island’s role as a significant transit hub for shipments bound for Europe.

The seizure operation lasted over 12 hours and involved an extensive review of containers in transit. The intervention was made possible by X-ray scanning technology, which detected suspicious images in one of the containers. Upon further inspection, agents located the drug shipment.

Carlos Devers, spokesperson for the DNCD, emphasized that this seizure is a major achievement, being the second-largest in the country’s history. According to Devers, this operation resulted from efficient collaboration between national agencies and international organizations, who have launched a thorough investigation to identify the connections and those responsible for the shipment.

So far, no arrests have been made in connection with this seizure, but investigations are ongoing. This case underscores the Dominican authorities’ efforts to combat drug trafficking and highlights international collaboration to curb the flow of drugs.

The packages will be sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) for analysis to determine the exact type and definitive weight of the drug. This procedure is part of the protocol to ensure precise results and provide conclusive evidence for potential legal actions.

This seizure reinforces the commitment of the Dominican Republic’s authorities to eradicate drug trafficking in the country and prevent its territory from being used as a bridge for international narcotics trafficking.