Dominican Republic secures seven historic rulings in fight against illicit trade

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader led the Illicit Trade Roundtable meeting on Tuesday, highlighting the Dominican Republic’s significant progress in combating illicit trade during 2024. The country achieved seven convictions, reinforcing its commitment to law enforcement, protecting legal trade, and safeguarding public health.

Abinader emphasized the importance of continuing the fight against illicit activities, noting that the government would allocate necessary resources to maintain momentum. Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ito Bisonó, praised the government’s comprehensive approach, citing the elimination of deaths from adulterated alcohol as a direct result of these efforts.

Key achievements include six convictions, the seizure of over 75 million illicit goods, and the Dominican Republic’s removal from the U.S. 301 Report on Intellectual Property Watch List. The country has also increased the capacity of CECCOM, created a Directorate on Illicit Trade, and launched an Illicit Trade Dashboard to promote transparency. The meeting also featured contributions from sectoral associations, including those representing alcohol, tobacco, medicine, and hydrocarbons.

The government’s efforts are grounded in Law No. 17-19, aimed at eradicating illicit trade, smuggling, and counterfeiting. The Illicit Trade Roundtable, established in response to the 2020 adulterated alcohol crisis, has fostered collaboration between public and private sectors to protect the economy and public safety. The event concluded with a recognition for Judge Miriam Germán for her dedication to combating illicit trade.