In a recent blow to Caribbean drug smuggling operations, Dominican authorities intercepted a vessel off the eastern coast of the Higüey municipality, seizing 42 packages of suspected cocaine near the popular tourist waters of Punta Cana.
The joint operation, mobilized by the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and the Dominican Navy, was launched following an active alert. Tactical teams deployed to the area discovered a 17-foot recreational boat named “Robalo,” bearing the registration number PR-2057-AA. The vessel, powered by a 150-horsepower motor, was found adrift off the coastline.
Upon boarding the vessel, authorities discovered the 42 vacuum-sealed packages directly on the boat’s deck. Agents also confiscated several pieces of evidence, including a Garmin-brand GPS device and several buckets. The seized packages have been sent under a strict chain of custody to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) for official testing and weighing.
In October 2025, the authorities had seized another similar 42 packages this time of marihuana attempted to be smuggled by air through Punta Cana International Airport.
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DNCD
Diario Libre
26 February 2026