“Authorities intervene in the planting of more than 15,000 marijuana plants in San José de Ocoa”

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Santo Domingo.– Anti-narcotics authorities in the Dominican Republic reported this Sunday the seizure of more than 15,000 marijuana plants in a remote rural community in San José de Ocoa, considered the largest intervention of this type in the country’s history.

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Following intelligence work and drone overflights, agents of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) and members of the Public Ministry, with the support of intelligence agencies, dismantled a plantation consisting of 15,392 marijuana plants and raided a house that was being used as a collection center.

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The operation, carried out over three days, also allowed for the seizure of tools and supplies used for the production, drying, dosing, and distribution of the plant, the DNCD reported in a statement.

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You can also read: Smoking and vaping marijuana increases the risk of asthma attacks among young adults, according to a study

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So far, the authorities have questioned more than ten people, including Dominicans and Haitians, because this case is believed to be linked to a previous intervention in the same area, where more than 3,000 marijuana plants were seized. For that incident, three men remain in preventive detention.

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The DNCD highlighted that this operation represents the largest seizure of a marijuana plantation recorded in the history of the Dominican Republic, setting a precedent in the fight against drug trafficking networks.

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The authorities maintain a large deployment in the area with the aim of collecting new evidence to strengthen the ongoing investigations.

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The seized plants were sent under chain of custody to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif), where their total weight will be determined.

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This intervention occurs in an international context marked by Operation Southern Lance, an initiative promoted by the United States to combat drug trafficking in Latin America.

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According to DNCD data, during the first months of 2026, Dominican authorities have seized more than 14.3 tons of drugs.

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Likewise, from January to date, 23,638 kilograms and 179 grams of narcotic substances have been destroyed, according to figures from the forensic agency.

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In 2025, Dominican authorities seized more than 48 tons of drugs as part of actions against drug trafficking, money laundering, and other related crimes.

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