Dominican Republic Makes Its Largest-Ever Drug Seizure Of $250M At Caucedo Port

In a historic drug bust, Dominican Republic authorities have seized 9.5 tons of cocaine, marking the largest-ever seizure in the country’s history.

The massive haul was hidden inside a banana shipment that arrived at Caucedo port, Santo Domingo, the nation’s capital and most important seaport.

The drugs, packed in 320 bags, were found in a container shipped from Guatemala. Officials revealed that smugglers planned to transfer the cocaine into another container destined for Belgium.

The street value of the drug is estimated to be $250 million.

Carlos Devers, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic’s anti-drug agency, confirmed the details during a press conference. He also reported that ten people have been arrested so far, with investigations ongoing to identify others involved in the operation.

This seizure is more than triple the size of the country’s previous record set in 2006 when authorities found 2,580 kilograms (approximately 5,680 pounds) of cocaine at the same port.

Officials said that Caucedo is a critical transit point for international shipping, making it a frequent target for smugglers.

The Dominican Republic has seized nearly 47 tons of drugs in 2024 alone. Earlier this year, authorities intercepted 660 pounds of cocaine on a boat near Puerto Rico, adding to the year’s haul.

Experts say the Caribbean is becoming a hotspot for smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe, where demand has soared in recent years.

According to crime analysis organisation InSight Crime, Europe’s consumption of cocaine has more than doubled between 2011 and 2023.

“The Caribbean is now a key route for traffickers trying to meet this growing demand,” the group said in a recent report. Large Dominican transport hubs, like Caucedo, offer traffickers a convenient gateway to move drugs into European markets.

The bust follows similar record-breaking seizures in other parts of the world. Earlier this year, Spain confiscated 13 tons of cocaine from a banana shipment, while British authorities found over 12,500 pounds of the drug hidden in another shipment of bananas.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic have vowed to increase efforts to combat smuggling. This record-breaking bust, they say, is a major step forward in their fight against drug trafficking.

“We are committed to protecting our ports and borders,” Devers said, adding that the anti-drug agency will continue its crackdown on smuggling networks operating in the region.

References: Reuters, AP News

Source: Maritime Shipping News