Senate approves tougher anti-trafficking laws

Espaillat.- In a special session held in the province of Espaillat, the Dominican Republic Senate approved key legislation and resolutions aimed at strengthening anti-trafficking laws and commemorating a significant moment in national history. The session marked the first reading of a bill amending Law 137-03 on migrant smuggling and human trafficking, which introduces stricter prison sentences—15 to 20 years for smuggling and 20 to 25 years for trafficking. It also adds harsher penalties for crimes involving public officials and clarifies the distinction between smuggling and trafficking by omission.

The Senate also unanimously passed a bill declaring May 2 as “Day of the Defense of Sovereignty,” commemorating the 1861 “Grito de Moca,” a revolt against the Dominican Republic’s annexation to Spain. The session, held at the Ramón Cáceres Museum in Moca, was led by Senate President Ricardo de los Santos, who emphasized the symbolic importance of holding legislative work in the birthplace of early resistance.