Armed agents stand guard over dozens of sealed drug evidence bags at the Dominican Republic’s DNCD Academy following one of the country’s largest cocaine seizures, announced during a press conference in Santo Domingo.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic say they intercepted a speedboat carrying more than 1.5 tons of suspected cocaine in a dramatic 12-hour pursuit across sea and land, ending in one of the nation’s largest maritime drug seizures.
The chase began Monday off the southern coast near Pedernales, when military and anti-narcotics teams spotted a suspicious "go-fast" boat. Using helicopters, ships, and ground units, officials pursued the vessel through the night before cornering it several nautical miles west of Cabo Falso.
Inside the 35-foot gray boat, officers found 53 bales containing 1,536 packages of suspected cocaine, according to the Dominican Republic’s National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD). The packages were wrapped in black plastic and marked with various logos.
How did authorities intercept the drug shipment?
The backstory:
The DNCD, alongside the Dominican Navy, Air Force, and public prosecutors, coordinated the joint interdiction effort. Authorities say the speedboat approached the coastline in a suspicious manner, prompting full activation of surveillance and response protocols.
The operation included helicopters flying overhead, naval units on the water, and tactical teams mobilized on land. After more than 12 hours of pursuit, they intercepted the boat and arrested four men—three Dominican nationals and one Colombian.
What they're saying:
Carlos Devers, spokesperson for the DNCD, told local media that the interception marks one of the biggest drug seizures in Dominican history. The agency emphasized that the fight against transnational crime is being strengthened through both national and international coordination.
"The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the DNCD are deepening their investigations into the case," the agency said in a statement, highlighting recent success in disrupting trafficking routes from South America.
By the numbers:
Officials added that the detainees will be brought before a court in the coming hours and charged under the country’s strict anti-drug laws.
- 1,536: Packages of suspected cocaine seized in the operation
- 1.5 tons: Estimated total weight of the drugs
- 12+ hours: Duration of the land-sea-air pursuit
- 46 tons: Total amount of drugs seized by Dominican authorities in 2024
What's next:
The four detainees face charges under Law 50-88 for trafficking controlled substances. Authorities say the cocaine samples will undergo forensic analysis to determine their purity and weight. The DNCD has vowed to continue ramping up patrols and intelligence-sharing across key maritime routes in the region.
The Source: This report is based on official statements from the Dominican Republic’s National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD), reporting from local outlet Acento, and details confirmed by the Dominican government’s Communications Directorate. Additional context on the country’s drug trafficking patterns was drawn from recent seizure data and historical comparisons provided by the DNCD.