Two historic marijuana seizures in the Dominican Republic point to an increase in the flow of the drug into the Caribbean nation. The consolidation of the local market and closer coordination among law enforcement agencies are key dynamics driving this trend.
On May 17, members of the Specialized Border Security Corps (Cuerpo Especializado de Seguridad Fronteriza – CESFRONT) and the National Drug Control Directorate (Dirección Nacional de Control de Drogas – DNCD) seized 2.7 tons of marijuana in Pedernales province, along the Haitian-Dominican border. The shipment, which originated in Jamaica, entered the Dominican Republic via Haiti in a truck.
“This is the largest shipment ever seized along this border,” the DNCD said in an official statement.
SEE ALSO:Dominican Republic Breaks Seizure Record Amid Renewed Caribbean Trafficking
Two weeks earlier, authorities intercepted 3 tons of synthetic marijuana — a chemical compound that produces effects similar to natural marijuana — at the Río Haina port. It was the largest synthetic marijuana seizure in the country’s history. The drug was hidden in cardboard boxes labeled as cat litter and had traveled from Guatemala to the Dominican Republic via Panama.
Official data shows a clear upward trend in marijuana seizures over the last five years. Nearly 8 tons have been confiscated so far this year alone — about 33% of the total 24 tons seized between 2020 and 2024.
The rise in marijuana seizures reflects both the growing consolidation of the domestic market and intensified law enforcement efforts.
“The increase in drug seizures reflects rising demand and supply in the country,” DNCD spokesperson Carlos Dever told InSight Crime. This is especially true of synthetic marijuana, which has gained ground in the local market.
“This drug is up to five times more expensive than natural marijuana,” he added. According to DNCD data, traditional marijuana sells for between $5 and $9 per ounce, while a dose of the synthetic variety can fetch up to $45.
SEE ALSO: The Dominican Republic: The Caribbean’s Cocaine Hub
According to Dever, the most common marijuana trafficking routes into the Dominican Republic include go-fast boats departing from La Guajira in northern Colombia, as well as from Guatemala and Costa Rica. Other shipments arrive on commercial flights, air cargo, or maritime freight from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Airports in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Santiago, and La Romana are among the main points of entry.
Increased cooperation among security agencies has also contributed to the record-breaking seizures. This collaboration has allowed authorities to better profile the criminal groups involved in the trade — a mix of local and international actors.
“Authorities have identified networks using foreign and Dominican drug mules to smuggle marijuana into the country, along with groups working in tandem with gangs from Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean,” Dever said.
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