The general commander of the Dominican Armada (ARD), Vice Admiral Miguel Enrique Peña Acosta said in an interview with El Dia that the main threat affecting the Dominican Republic is the scourge of drug trafficking.
He said that given the 1,600 kilometers of coastline and its many islands, combatting drug trafficking is a major challenge and a responsibility of the Dominican navy. He called the drug trafficking activity at sea “impressive.” Peña Acosta said the most drug trafficking activity has been detected in Ocoa Bay in the southwest, Samaná and Sánchez in the northeast, and Miches and the eastern region.
He said the ARD has an aging fleet of 13 intervention boats and five drones that are used in offshore operations to detect and seize vessels loaded with drugs and illegal travelers. The navy has a staff of 1,600 members assigned nationwide to 81 posts to fight drug trafficking. As part of the efforts, he said the ARD keeps tabs on the owners and users of boats to ensure they have the adequate documentation.
The ARD’s Tactical Battalion and Department of Land Operations are responsible for land operations to support the efforts at sea. He said in the past 15 months, they have detected 400 boats that would have been used for illegal trips.
He said support has been received from the US government that is donating 10 jeeps to the Ministry of Defense.
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El Dia
11 December 2017
