Duartian Institute on arrest of Haitian gang members in the Dominican Republic: “It’s a serious threat.”

Following the arrest of three members of a Haitian gang attempting to acquire drones in the Dominican Republic, the president of the Duartiano Institute, Wilson Gómez asserted that the entry of gangs into the country is a “real and serious threat.”

“That’s not ruled out. In fact, these gangs and their leaders have been bringing in their families to keep them safe on the Dominican side; those efforts are being made. Now, it’s up to Dominican intelligence, where intelligence agencies have to play their role in detecting these inflows because that’s a serious and real threat,” Gómez stated.

Gómez also appealed to the Dominican government’s determination and the implementation of policies to address the “civil and military corruption” plaguing the border area and threatening citizen security in the face of the developing sociopolitical situation prevailing in neighboring Haiti following the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.

“With regard to national policy, it’s true that we must implement a serious, upright policy on the border to confront the corruption that exists. Civilian and military corruption, corruption among agents—the government’s determination is needed there,” he said.

He also addressed the international community’s constant accusations and accusations regarding Haitian repatriations from Dominican territory, asserting that they seek to “discredit” the nation’s morality in the eyes of the world.

“Unfortunately, this malicious campaign, openly aimed at blackmailing and extorting the Republic, has actors not only among the Haitian elite, but also among bad Dominicans here who fuel this wave of negative opinion,” he said.

He added that “these international organizations, these agents, these agencies have aimed to discredit the Dominican Republic, with a long-standing campaign, and it has now been strengthened by this circumstance, seeking to undermine Dominican morale.”

These statements were offered at an event organized by the Dominican College of Notaries, where these professionals reaffirmed their commitment to ethics and transparency in the practice of notary publicity during the unveiling of a bust of Juan Pablo Duarte at its headquarters in the Gazcue sector.

The arrest of the three “terrorists.”

Intelligence services from Haiti and the Dominican Republic located and arrested three members of a Haitian gang in the Dominican Republic on Friday morning. They were planning to acquire suicide drones in the country to launch attacks in the neighboring country.

A source confirmed to LISTÍN DIARIO that Haitian intelligence agents coordinated with their counterparts from J-2 of the Ministry of Defense. This entire operation ended with the arrest of the three “terrorists” who were detained in Haiti.

Haitian National Police Director General Remeau Normil said the gangs intended to use the drones to launch attacks in Haiti, a country on the brink of total collapse due to violence by armed groups that maintain control over much of Haiti.

The gang members were arrested near Dajabón, which is northwest of the Dominican Republic and borders Haiti.