Troops, choppers, drones and ships at Dominican-Haiti border
![](https://dominicantoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Helicopter-DR-Air-Force-commando-on-rope.jpg)
File
Santo Domingo.- Since Wednesday surveillance along the border was beefed up with troops and helicopters, as well as ships patrolling the Pedernales and Manzanillo coasts, to prevent the massive entry of undocumented Haitians and contraband.
Local media report that over 5,400 soldiers guard the entire border, which will be rotated to avoid being attracted by corruption.
Moreover, Dominican Air Force helicopters patrol the area since Wednesday, to detect undocumented people hiding in the forests and the mountains.
“Since the reinforced surveillance on the border began, by order of president Danilo Medina, 3,620 Haitians have been returned,” said the source quoted by Diario Libre.
The source said that also deployed were surveillance drones that transmit in real time and solar energy-powered cameras were installed in strategic border posts. “This has facilitated the arrest of Haitian criminals who are wanted in their country for committing crimes.”
Defense minister Rubén Paulino recently said the border is totally safeguarded.
Last year Border Security arrested more than 124,000 undocumented immigrants who were handed over Immigration inspectors at border crossings to be returned to their country.