Like there are organizers of boat trips to transport illegal Dominicans across the Mona Channel to Puerto Rico, the local press has published the first stories on gangs that assist illegal Haitians to cross the Dominican frontier. Hoy newspaper reports that the human traffickers have taken a break now that the Dominican government ordered the military to reduce the numbers of illegal Haitians crossing over. Residents in the areas confirm clans and mafias help the illegal Haitians across the frontier for a price. The traffickers make the crossing in areas that are not populated and have little military vigilance. Note that the Dominican frontier with Haiti is 365 kilometers long. Since it is impossible to patrol, and there is no physical impediment, such as that that divides Mexico and the US, the frontier line is easy to cross by anyone who would like to do so. Hoy newspaper says that the illegal Haitians are charged "high" sums of money, that the traffickers say are used to bribe Dominican migration inspectors and military, so that these may look the other way and allow the Haitians in. This way, thousands of Haitians are able to cross at official entry points as well as other points of the frontier.
