Pedernales, Dominican Republic.- The Border Security Corps (Cesfront) supported by other agencies on Monday seized a truck full of the timbered aromatic tree, guaconejo (torchwood) headed to Haiti, where the contraband s trafficked extensively.
The Cesfront said it seized the truck and its cargo from a group of Dominicans and Haitians, for which smugglers would pay over RD$60,000.
Despite the Environment Ministry’s ban on torchwood, traffickers take the cargoes to Haiti during the night.
Cesfront’s measures nonetheless keep forest poachers at bay along the border, where it recently seized a shipment worth over RD$400,000 and arrested a group of Dominicans and Haitians.