The US State Department released on 1 March the 2003 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), an annual statement from the Department of State to Congress, prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. It describes the efforts of key countries to counteract all aspects of the international drug trade in 2003. The US sees the DR as a major transhipment point (from South America primarily via Haiti), with an estimated 8% of the cocaine directed to the US moving through the DR and its territorial waters.
The section of the report that focuses on the DR has provoked local controversy, however, for its statement that “although the Dominican government continued its effort to combat corruption in 2003, corruption and weak governmental institutions remained an impediment to controlling the flow of illegal narcotics through the DR.”
Furthermore, the report states: “In December 2003, with no fanfare, one of six persons arrested in the “Joselito.com” case and awaiting deportation to the US was released on orders of the Dominican Attorney General. In response to Embassy protests, the Attorney General cited supposed inadequacies in the extradition request package. At year’s end, President Mejia was aware of US government concerns, but no further action had been taken.”
“Dominican institutions remain vulnerable to influence by interest groups or individuals with money to spend, including narcotics traffickers. The Dominican government has not convicted any senior government official for engaging in, encouraging, or in any way facilitating the illicit production or distribution of illicit drugs or controlled substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions.”
http://www.state.gov/g/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2003/vol1/html/29834.htm