Largest Drug Bust in the Dominican Republic: 9,8 Tons of Cocaine Seized at Port
Last week, authorities in the Dominican Republic announced the largest cocaine seizure in the nation’s history. This event is part of a trend indicating a resurgence of drug trafficking routes from Caribbean islands to major European markets, where cocaine is highly valued and sold in large quantities.
The Dominican drug agency, DNCD, intercepted 9,8 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a shipment of Guatemalan bananas at the Caucedo port complex in Santo Domingo. The smuggling attempt was uncovered when police noticed two open containers at the terminal—one empty and the other filled with bananas. Initially reported as 9.5 tonnes, a more accurate assessment revealed the total weight to be 9.8 tonnes, significantly surpassing the previous record of 2,6 tonnes.
Source: DNCD
The cocaine was destined for Belgium, which serves as a key entry point for cocaine into Europe and is one of the fastest-growing markets for the drug within the EU.
In connection with the bust, Dominican authorities have detained ten individuals. The Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office and the DNCD are continuing to investigate several persons of interest associated with the port, with further developments anticipated. DNCD spokesman Carlos Denvers informed the BBC that there were “many unknown individuals” attempting to transfer the drugs to another container for shipment to Belgium.
The Dominican police have estimated the value of the shipment at $250 million. If it had reached Europe, it would have been worth approximately $330 million wholesale; if sent to the Pacific and delivered to Australia, its value could have reached around $1 billion, and potentially double that at retail. Instead, the drugs will be incinerated in an official ceremony at the Dominican Army headquarters.
Cocaine use is contributing to a rise in drug-related deaths in England, where fatalities linked to cocaine have increased tenfold over the past decade. Last year marked the highest recorded drug death rates in the UK, largely driven by opiate use.
