Number of border guards to halt illegal entry more than doubled

Santo Domingo.- Defence minister Sigfrido Pared on Tuesday announced the deployment of more Border Security (Cesfront) guards to prevent undocumented Haitians from entering Dominican Republic.

He said the increase will be from 600 to 1,400 soldiers to protect the border with Haiti.

The announcement comes several weeks after the Government announced a halt of deportations until the National Plan to Regularize Foreigners takes effect.

Pared, speaking prior to the start of the Caribbean Nations Security Conference 2014 (CANSEC), said drug trafficking has decreased in the country.

"The historical collaboration between the United States and Dominican Republic has led to very positive results with many tons of drugs seized; the capture of crime organized leaders at the national level and equipment and modernisation of the teams which fight organized crime," said Pared, accompanied by U.S. Southern Command chief, John F. Kelly.

Kelly’s visit forms part of the "Beyond the horizon" military exercises between Dominican and U.S. armed forces, for the technical training of a large number of staff to confront drug and human trafficking, smuggling and threats of terrorism.