The security task force is key to national security, President Luis Abinader told the nation during his weekly press conference. He said the weekly meeting brings together top defense and security officials to talk national security efforts. At a time when the country is under the pressures of the violence and collapse in Haiti and drug trafficking pressures, the task force has been essential to coordinate efforts.
The President says that the task force has enabled the taking of decisions based on updated data and the more efficient use of resources to respond to crime focuses in different municipalities nationwide. It also enables fast action to tackle surges in crime.
Abinader attributed to the task force that the homicide rate of 13.79% per 100,000 in June 2023 dropped to 11.5% in December 2024, and a low 8.3% homicide rate as of 6 July 2025. Abinader says this makes the Dominican Republic the second safest country in Latin America, only behind El Salvador, according to Crime Insight statistics.
Abinader mentioned that social conflicts are behind half of the homicides, followed by 21% of delinquency.
Abinader mentioned from 2023 to 2025 there has been a 22% decline in thefts.
President Luis Abinader highlighted in the 7 July weekly press conference that the Dominican government works closely with the United States in fighting drug trafficking. He mentioned that the DR has moved up to position No. 2 in capturing fugitives who have traveled here to escape US justice. He told criminals not to hide here because new technologies would enable their capture.
Abinader mentioned that was the case of how a member of the Sinaloa drug cartel of Mexico was arrested in the DR and deported to the United States. Vice Admiral Jose Manuel Cabrera Ulloa of the National Drug Control Agency during the press conference denied Sinaloa drug cartel members under international alert could hide in the DR. He was categoric in saying Sinaloa does not operate here. “Dominican intelligence works and responds with efficiency to any threat,” he said.
The Dominican government today dedicates 3.4% of the National Budget 2025 (RD$19 billion as of May 2025) to defense, most investments on the border with Haiti.
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La Semanal 7 July 2025
Hoy
8 July 2025