Army men arrested late on Tuesday, 23 January 2018 some 44 illegal Haitian immigrants traveling on a minibus to the city of Mao. The bus covers the route between Las Matas de Santa Cruz and Mao. According to El Nacional newspaper, the most recent series of arrests brings the total number of illegals arrested and turned over to the Migration authorities for deportation to some 10,000 in the last two weeks.
According to Colonel Felix Manuel Duran Infante, the commander of the 4th Brigade, the 44 Haitians were attempting to reach Santiago. He said that he and his troops are part of Operation Shield 2018 underway as part of the Dominican Army strategy to slow down the wave of Haitian immigration. Col. Duran Infante also added that his troops have also seized more than seven tons of contraband garlic, and 92 motorcycles being driven by illegal and undocumented persons. The army has also seized seven SUVs carrying contraband and illegals, three minibuses, various small weapons and 140 pounds of marijuana in their operations.
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El Nacional
25 January 2018
