In Santiago for the activity that marked the start of school, Vice President Raquel Peña addressed the ongoing issue of Haitian gang activity, specifically the notorious “400 Mawozo” gang, which has reportedly established a presence in the northern city of Santiago, as reported in Diario Libre.
Peña assured the public that the recent arrests made in connection with the gang are an isolated incident and that authorities are actively working to dismantle the criminal network. “The information we have is that it was an isolated situation and they were immediately identified and arrested,” she stated.
The Vice President reiterated President Luis Abinader’s previous warning that anyone attempting to engage in criminal activities within Dominican territory will face the full consequences of the law. She emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening the Armed Forces and National Police to safeguard the nation’s borders.
Last week, Dominican authorities launched a manhunt for Pierre Peguy (Joni), the alleged leader of the 400 Mawozo gang. The group has been linked to a series of robberies targeting truck drivers on the Joaquín Balaguer highway, a major thoroughfare connecting Santiago de los Caballeros with other cities in the Cibao region.
Following a series of raids, law enforcement officials reported the arrest of 15 individuals suspected of being members of the gang led by Joni.
Diario Libre has reported that at least six trucks loaded with various goods have been stolen in Santiago over the past few months by members of an alleged criminal organization led by Pierre Peguy, alias “Joni,” the head of the Haitian gang “400 Mawozo.” Records from the Santiago Police Department’s theft division, located on the grounds of the former Cibao Airport, confirm these incidents.
Sony Birdie, president of the Dominican-Haitian Truckers Association, told Diario Libre that authorities have recovered two of the six trucks stolen from his members while traveling along the Joaquín Balaguer Highway, which connects Santiago de los Caballeros to Navarrete and other communities in the Cibao region.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
27 August 2024