Dominican Republic Strengthens Regional Leadership Against Transnational Crime

The Dominican Republic has strengthened its role in maritime, air, and land security across the Caribbean through greater investment in operational capabilities, intelligence sharing, stronger interagency coordination, and international cooperation.

The country's operational integration has deepened through closer coordination with U.S.-based Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S), headquartered in Key West. Coordination with agencies such as the DEA, JIATF-S, and other partners has enhanced the country's operational and response capabilities through the timely exchange of information, the tracking of suspicious vessels, and the execution of joint operations.

As a result, the Dominican Republic has strengthened its interdiction, surveillance, air and maritime response, and intelligence-sharing capabilities with U.S. agencies, improving the planning and execution of operations against narcotrafficking networks.

## Expanding the Operational Framework

The Dominican Republic's growing operational role is the result of a sustained effort. Over the past two years, the country has steadily expanded its participation in multinational counternarcotics operations, including landmark joint maritime operations with the United States and other regional partners. These efforts have demonstrated not only stronger operational capabilities but also the country's growing willingness to assume a greater share of regional responsibility in the fight against TCOs.

The cooperation expanded further in May, when the Dominican government announced the expansion of temporary U.S. operational access under the Shield of the Americas initiative. According to the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the mechanism supports surveillance, counternarcotics interdiction, information sharing, training, and technical assistance, reinforcing the operational cooperation that both countries have steadily expanded in recent years.

## Operational Results

Greater cooperation has already produced tangible operational results. On April 17, a joint operation involving the DNCD, Dominican naval and air forces, JIATF-S, and the DEA Caribbean Division seized 1.7 metric tons of cocaine off the coast of Pedernales. Dominican newspaper *El Día* reported that the operation resulted in the dismantling of a TCO engaged in large-scale narcotrafficking along the Caribbean corridor.

| Operation | Date | Seized | Location | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Joint operation | April 17 | 1.7 metric tons of cocaine | Off the coast of Pedernales | | Joint operation | May | 978 packages of cocaine | South of Santo Domingo |

In May, that coordination produced another successful operation south of Santo Domingo, where the DNCD, with support from the Dominican Navy, Air Force, DEA, JIATF-S, and the French frigate *FS Germinal*, intercepted a go-fast vessel carrying 978 packages of cocaine and arrested three Venezuelan nationals, *Infobae* reported. The interdiction underscored how close coordination among national and international partners strengthens the Dominican Republic's capacity to disrupt maritime drug-trafficking routes.

For Devers, the impact of this coordination among Dominican institutions and their international partners has been transformative. "The strengthening of real-time information [sharing] among countries and agencies allows us to deny criminal networks operational space, protect maritime corridors, and permanently strengthen security throughout the Caribbean, North America, and Europe," he said.