2005News

1,538 foreign detainees

Approximately 1,538 foreigners are detained in different prisons in the DR accused of a range of felonies, El Caribe reports. Most foreigners have been arrested in airports and ports carrying drugs as “mules” according to the Attorney General. European countries with the highest number of detainees are The Netherlands, with 45, followed by Spain, 26, and Germany, 8. Also, France, 3, Italy, 7 and Russia, 2. Other European detainees are from Bulgaria, Greece and Portugal. Others include citizens of Haiti, 419, Colombia, 50, Curacao, 12, United States, 30, Brazil, 6, Canada, 4, Puerto Rico, 30, Venezuela, 49, Panama, 5, Peru, 5, and Jamaica, 5. Also, Philippines, 2, Pakistan, 1. There are 803 detainees who did not have documentation when they were arrested and thus, their nationality is undetermined, according to the report. They are serving terms together with 11,316 Dominicans in 34 public prisons.