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A high-caliber weapons shipment has been intercepted at the Port of Haina, triggering an investigation by Dominican and U.S. authorities. Customs officials discovered the cache during a routine inspection of a container in transit from Miami, Florida. The shipment included 36,000 rounds of ammunition, 18 rifle magazines, 13 nine-millimeter magazines, a .50 caliber rifle magazine, a silencer, and a pistol case.
Also found were 23 firearms, including a powerful Barrett .50 caliber rifle, 17 rifles chambered in 7.62mm, a 9mm rifle, five Glock pistols, and an Uzi submachine gun. Authorities suspect the weapons were intended for Haiti, where armed groups have been escalating violence.
Following the discovery, Dominican authorities detained several individuals for questioning. However, officials have not confirmed whether any of them are linked to port operations or larger smuggling networks.
The Attorney General’s Office is leading the investigation alongside the Ministry of Defense’s intelligence services and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations. The goal is to trace the origins of the shipment, identify those involved, and determine whether the weapons were linked to organized criminal groups.
Wilson Gómez Ramírez, director of the Instituto Duartiano, called the incident alarming and stressed the need for accountability. “This should be investigated to the fullest extent, and those responsible must face serious consequences,” he stated, highlighting concerns over the implications for regional security.
This seizure comes just weeks after another shipment of 30 rifles and seven pistols was confiscated at the same port. That case, involving weapons sent from Brooklyn, New York, led to at least one arrest.
Authorities are now ramping up security measures at ports and borders, fearing that continued weapons smuggling could further destabilize Haiti and pose risks to the Dominican Republic. Officials are expected to increase inspections and strengthen intelligence-sharing efforts to prevent future incidents.
