Environmental protection agents in the Dominican Republic were violently attacked and threatened with firearms when ambushed while transporting a truck seized for illegal sand mining, Diario Libre reports.
Members of the National Environmental Protection Service (Senpa) had apprehended a truck and its driver in San Cristóbal province for allegedly extracting sand illegally. While transporting the seized vehicle to their headquarters, they were confronted by a group of men believed to be part of a local truckers’ union. At gunpoint, the assailants forced the Senpa agents out of the truck and retrieved the seized vehicle. Backup that was near arrived and the situation was eventually de-escalated. Apparently, the assailants did not notice that additional protection agents were following in a pickup truck.
The Senpa, a specialized unit under the Ministry of Defense, plays a crucial role in enforcing environmental laws and regulations. This incident highlights the dangers faced by environmental enforcement officers as they work to protect natural resources.
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Diario Libre
8 January 2025