Dominican Republic Seizes Record 9,500kg of Cocaine Shipped in Bananas

A historic cocaine seizure of 9,500 kilograms in the Dominican Republic has sparked investigations and highlighted the growing role of the Caribbean in drug trafficking to Europe.

In a historic operation, Dominican authorities reported the largest cocaine seizure in the nation's history, uncovering 9,500 kilograms of the drug hidden within a shipment of bananas at Santo Domingo's port. With an estimated street value of around $250 million (£196 million), this unprecedented haul consists of 320 bags of cocaine believed to be destined for Europe.

The discovery has led to a series of investigations targeting at least ten individuals associated with the port, following early investigations that traced the origin of the bananas back to Guatemala. Carlos Denvers, the communications chief of the National Drug Control Directorate, reported that "many unknown individuals tried to transfer the drugs to another container that would be shipped on a vessel to Belgium."

This significant seizure surpasses the previous record set in 2006 when 2,580kg of cocaine were confiscated at the same port, underscoring the increasing prevalence of drug trafficking in the region. Monitoring agencies have warned that the Caribbean is re-emerging as a primary drug transit route connecting Colombia to European markets.

Despite international efforts to combat drug trafficking, a report conducted last year indicated a rise in cocaine usage across Western Europe, particularly in the UK, Belgium, France, and Spain. The United Nations reported that Europe comprised 21% of the world's cocaine users as of 2020.

The heightened cocaine consumption has adverse repercussions, with recent statistics revealing that drug-poisoning fatalities in England and Wales have surged to the highest level in 30 years, primarily driven by a worrying 30% increase in cocaine-related deaths.