So far this year, according to the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD), its agents have seized close to five metric tons of drugs (1000 kg = 2,200 pounds = 1 metric ton, also called a long ton). Most of the drugs were being transshipped via the Dominican Republic en route to Europe or the United States. In fact the total is way over five metric tons and closer to seven metric tons because neither the 1,638 packages (or “bricks”) of cocaine weighing 1,909kg, seized on Saona Island during Easter Week in a combined operation with the US Coast Guard nor the 700kg seized at the Punta Cana International Airport on 20 March are included in the total. And this was just in the first quarter of the year.