The Dominican Republic reported a major drug seizure after a U.S. airstrike targeted a vessel carrying over a ton of suspected cocaine.
The Dominican Republic has announced a significant drug seizure following a U.S. airstrike on a vessel suspected of trafficking narcotics. The boat was reportedly carrying “approximately 1,000 kilograms of suspected cocaine,” which translates to over 2,200 pounds, or more than one ton of the drug.
In the aftermath of the airstrike, the Dominican Republic’s National Drug Control Directorate and its navy seized hundreds of packages containing the suspected cocaine. These packages were subsequently sent, under chain of custody, to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) for analysis to determine their exact type and weight.
The operation was described as the first “joint operation against narcoterrorism in the Caribbean region” conducted between the Dominican Republic and the United States. According to a news release from the National Drug Control Directorate, authorities detected a speedboat, known as a “Go Fast” type, which intelligence reports indicated was loaded with narcotics and heading toward Dominican territory. The intention was to use the Dominican Republic as a transit point to transport the drugs to the United States.
This airstrike is part of a broader initiative by the U.S. government to combat drug trafficking. President Donald Trump has ordered strikes on multiple vessels this month as part of this crackdown. In a recent post on Truth Social, he emphasized the administration’s commitment to targeting drug traffickers, stating, “IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!”
The U.S. government has classified cocaine as “an intense, euphoria-producing stimulant drug with strong addictive potential.” A fact sheet from the government notes that tolerance to cocaine’s effects develops rapidly, leading users to consume higher doses.
This operation underscores the ongoing collaboration between the Dominican Republic and U.S. authorities in the fight against narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean region.
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