Sources from the Dominican Foreign Ministry have told the newspaper Hoy that an agreement is ready to be signed with the United States that would permit automobiles stolen in that country and exported to the D.R. to be returned. Last year, a considerable number of luxury cars, which had been stolen in the state of New York, were imported to the D.R., resulting in numerous and well-publicized police investigations. Two groups of people allegedly running an organization of car thieves were discovered last year by authorities here and in the U.S., bringing the stolen vehicles to the D.R. The problem has been the source of complaints by the National Association of Vehicle Distributors, who claim that their businesses are being severely damaged by the influx of stolen cars.
19 April – 2 May 1996