Dominican authorities seize over 18 tons of drugs in first seven months of 2025

Santo Domingo.- The National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) announced today that more than 20 tons of illegal substances have been intercepted across the Dominican Republic between January and July 2025, marking a slight uptick over the same period last year.

Official figures show that cocaine led the haul with 9,438.94 kg seized, while marijuana accounted for 8,904.96 kg. Other narcotics—ecstasy, hashish, crack and opium—totaled 23.76 kg. April proved the busiest month, with 4,427.34 kg confiscated nationwide, over 3,000 kg of which was marijuana. May followed closely at 4,296.72 kg, together representing nearly half (47.5 percent) of the year’s total.

Cocaine seizures peaked in June at 1,745.16 kg. Aside from a dip in February—which saw the lowest monthly total of 934.19 kg—interceptions of cocaine have consistently exceeded 1,000 kg each month. By July’s end, authorities had recorded 2,145.60 kg in seizures, bolstered by a dramatic July 29 operation off Pedernales that netted 1.5 tonnes of suspected cocaine in 1,536 packages following a high-speed maritime pursuit.

Compared to the 18,201.34 kg confiscated in the same seven-month span of 2024, this year’s total of 18,367.66 kg reflects a modest increase of 166.32 kg. Cocaine remains the most trafficked drug, accounting for more than 14 tonnes of the year’s intercepts, with its largest monthly hauls recorded in March and July.

DNCD officials hailed the results as evidence of enhanced surveillance, intelligence-led operations and interagency cooperation, but cautioned that the persistent flow of synthetic drugs—highlighted by spikes in ecstasy and hashish in April (6.81 kg) and June (4.42 kg)—underscores the challenge of stemming new trafficking routes.