Representing President Luis Abinader at the Miami Security Forum, Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful presented a report on the Dominican Republic’s historic shift in public safety and international cooperation. The event, hosted by The Heritage Foundation, convened over 200 political, defense, and private sector leaders to strategize against transnational crime and regional instability.
The Miami Security Forum, which featured the participation of Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful, took place from 20 March to 22 March 2026.
Minister Raful made her presentation, titled “Dominican Republic: A Strategic US Partner in Security Affairs,” on 21 March 2026. During this session, she shared the historic milestone of the Dominican Republic achieving its lowest homicide rate in history (8.15 per 100,000 inhabitants) during 2025.
This figure represents the lowest in the nation’s history and a nearly 15% reduction compared to the previous year.
Raful attributed these gains to a data-driven strategy and institutional strengthening, noting the addition of 9,500 new agents to the National Police. She also highlighted the ongoing police reform currently under debate in the Senate, which aims to modernize the force through community integration and local security councils.
War on drugs and economic synergy
The Minister reported a massive surge in drug interdiction efforts, stating that seizures have quintupled since 2019. In 2025 alone, the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and allied forces intercepted 48.3 tons of narcotics.
Raful underscored the economic interdependence between the Dominican Republic and the United States, citing that bilateral trade surpassed US$18.9 billion in 2025. She spoke of the impact of US$11.8 billion in remittances sent to the DR by 2.4 million Dominican expats.
Regional alliances and the Haiti crisis
Addressing the crisis in Haiti, Raful reiterated the Dominican position that the situation remains a “hemispheric challenge” requiring a coordinated, international response to safeguard regional democracies.
On the sidelines of the forum, Raful held a high-level meeting with the Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González Colón, to discuss intelligence sharing and the modernization of Caribbean security apparatuses.
The host of the meeting was the Heritage Foundation, regarded as one of the most influential conservative think tanks operating in the United States capital city, Washington, D.C.
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Noticias SIN
23 March 2026