Dominican Republic joins regional forum to combat drug trafficking

Panama City.- A high-level Dominican delegation, led by Defense Minister Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, participated in the Forum of the Americas Coalition Against Cartels (A3C) in Panama, alongside defense and security officials from nearly 18 countries.

The August 11–12 meeting focused on strengthening regional cooperation against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime through intelligence sharing, border security and greater coordination among security institutions.

The Dominican delegation also included Deputy Interior and Police Minister Edwin Eusebio Féliz Brito, National Investigations Department (DNI) Director Luis Soto, Defense Ministry Intelligence Director Brigadier General Enrique Armando Aguilera Trujillo and Brigadier General Edgar Tiburcio, the country’s liaison for the Shield of the Americas initiative.

Hosted by the Government of Panama, the forum addressed regional security threats and strategies to disrupt the logistical, financial and operational networks of criminal organizations.

The Dominican government said its participation will help strengthen cooperation and intelligence-sharing with the United States and other countries while supporting efforts to improve the surveillance and protection of the country’s land, sea and airspace against drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime.