The Attorney General Office (PGR) has released the results of the investigation that led to the seizing of 9.8 tons of cocaine at Caucedo Port in eastern Santo Domingo province. The cocaine seized, which was announced by the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) on Friday, 6 December 2024, would have a street value of US$250 million. It was incinerated. The shipment was destined for Antwerp, Belgium in Europe. The case is now named Operation Panthera 7.
In a coordinated operation involving the Attorney General Office’s Public Ministry, the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Dominican authorities dismantled a major international drug trafficking and money laundering network, following the seizure of over 9.8 tons of cocaine. Codenamed “Operation Panthera 7,” the operation unfolded on Saturday, 11 January 2025 when 89 prosecutors and 564 special forces agents executed simultaneous arrests and raids across the country.
The PGR explains that software-based crime scene reconstruction was used to analyze evidence and build a strong case against the suspects in the criminal network. The authorities sought the collaboration of the Criminal Investigations (Dicrim) of the National Police to process the crucial evidence that was gathered during the investigation. Likewise, intelligence was shared with international partners to track the movement of the drug shipment and identify key players in the operation.
Investigators say that the 9,587 packages of cocaine, weighing a total of 9,889 kilograms, were smuggled into the Dominican Republic from Colombia via maritime routes, entering the country primarily through the ports of Bayahibe, La Romana, and Pedernales.
Among the key findings is that the criminal organization had infiltrated the Caucedo Multimodal Port, corrupting employees to facilitate the entry of the drug shipment. The organization utilized the companies Grasswey Group SRL and GWG Transport for international drug trafficking.
Timeline of events:
The PGR shared the timeline of events leading to the crackdown and seizure of the record 9.8 ton cargo.
After the DNCD received intelligence indicating a significant cocaine shipment was destined for the Caucedo Multimodal Port, increased surveillance and heightened security measures were implemented.
December 5, 2024:
• At 5:40pm, the shipping container (FFAU4542281) carrying the cocaine was transported by truck (Mack, model CXU613, license plate L380563) and attempted to bypass security checks at the port.
• At 6:05pm, the same truck passed through another security checkpoint (P-1) and falsely declared the container as empty.
• At 8:21pm, the container was located in the port’s storage area. A second container (HLBU9354083) containing bananas from Guatemala was also found to be contaminated with 3,598 packages of cocaine.
Modus Operandi:
The criminal organization planned to transfer the cocaine from the initial container (FFAU4542281) to the banana container (HLBU9354083) for shipment to Belgium.
Four armed individuals, known as “clavadores” (nailers) in the criminal underworld, attempted to escape the port with a hijacked truck but were thwarted by the DNCD and port security.
Evidence and Arrests:
Digital evidence, vehicles, firearms, outboard motors, and other incriminating materials were seized during the raids. Numerous individuals, including key members of the criminal organization, have been arrested.
The Attorney General prosecutors says they will seek pre-trial detention for the arrested individuals.
Read more in Spanish:
Attorney General
El Dia
DR1 News
DR1 News
Lloyds List
Maritime Executive
13 January 2025