HomeNewsBriefPurge, Arrest, Investigation Highlight Corruption in Dominican Republic
BRIEF

Purge, Arrest, Investigation Highlight Corruption in Dominican Republic

CARIBBEAN / 28 AUG 2013 BY CHARLES PARKINSON EN

Authorities in the Dominican Republic have arrested an ex-soldier on drugs charges, forcibly retired 68 police officers for misconduct, and re-opened a money laundering investigation into a former president, highlighting how corruption pervades public institutions in the Caribbean nation.

Dominican police arrested a former first lieutenant of the army as part of an organized crime bust in which 20 kilos of cocaine, a dozen firearms, and military equipment were seized.

On the same day, police announced the purge of the 68 officers -- among them three colonels -- from its ranks. While most were removed for personal and professional misconduct, at least one was linked to criminal groups.

Both announcements were made just a day after a corruption and money laundering case against ex-President Leonel Fernandez was re-opened after a former prosecutor and political rival appealed against the May annulment of investigations into his conduct during three presidential terms, the last of which ended in August 2012.

InSight Crime Analysis

The Dominican Republic, an important transhipment point for US-bound drugs trafficked by both air and sea, has been plagued in recent years by accusations of corruption and complicity in drug trafficking among security forces, including high-ranking officers.

Earlier this year, a former presidential candidate faced accusations he took bribes from a drug lord, while last year the United States revoked the visas of three of Leonel Fernandez’s closest advisors for alleged drug ties. The investigation into Fernandez suggests even the top leadership of the Dominican Republic is involved with organized crime.

In recent years, the Dominican Republic has cooperated extensively with the US and other regional partners on drug interdiction programs and has made some significant busts in 2013, although claims in February that air trafficking had been “essentially eliminated,” quickly proved to be unfounded.

Despite this progress, the endemic corruption seen in the military, the police force and politics -- stretching up into the highest levels -- serves as a barrier to successful anti-drug efforts.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

BOLIVIA / 23 SEP 2022

As world leaders met for the United Nations General Assembly, Latin American presidents expressed various concerns about organized crime.

CARIBBEAN / 8 DEC 2022

A broad state of emergency announced across Jamaica in order to rein in rising violence has met with scorn.

CARIBBEAN / 9 JUL 2021

In a familiar scheme seen across Latin America, prosecutors in the Dominican Republic have arrested a number of government officials…

About InSight Crime

WORK WITH US

Open Position: Social Media and Engagement Strategist

27 MAY 2023

InSight Crime is looking for a Social Media and Engagement Strategist who will be focused on maintaining and improving InSight Crime’s reputation and interaction with its audiences through publishing activities…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Receives Great Reception

27 MAY 2023

Several of InSight Crime’s most recent articles about Venezuela have been well received by regional media. Our article on Venezuela’s colectivos expanding beyond their political role to control access to…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report Continues

19 MAY 2023

For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited

THE ORGANIZATION / 12 MAY 2023

We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Paraguay Election Coverage Draws Attention 

5 MAY 2023

InSight Crime looked at the various anti-organized crime policies proposed by the candidates in Paraguay’s presidential election, which was won on April 30 by Santiago Peña. Our pre-election coverage was cited…