The Dominican Republic has recorded its largest cocaine seizure to date, with authorities discovering 9,500kg of the drug hidden in a shipment of bananas at the port in Santo Domingo, the capital. The cocaine was concealed in 320 bags, with an estimated street value of $250 million (£196 million).
The National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) reported that the bananas had arrived from Guatemala. Initial investigations have led to at least 10 people linked to the port being placed under investigation. Carlos Denvers, the DNCD’s communications chief, stated: “Many unknown individuals tried to transfer the drugs to another container that would be shipped on a vessel to Belgium.”
This seizure surpasses the previous record of 2,580kg, which was confiscated in the same port in 2006. The discovery underscores the Caribbean’s resurgence as a key route for drug trafficking from Colombia to Europe. Reports have also highlighted a growing trend of cocaine use in Western European countries, including the UK, Belgium, France, and Spain. According to a UN report, Europe accounted for 21% of global cocaine users in 2020.
The rise in cocaine use has contributed to severe public health issues. Recent data shows that drug-poisoning deaths in England and Wales have reached the highest levels in 30 years, driven by a 30% increase in fatalities involving cocaine.
