Dominican Republic and Belgium Agree to Bolster Fight Against Drug Trafficking

The Dominican Republic and Belgium have formalized a partnership to bolster their fight against drug trafficking and other transnational crimes affecting international trade. A memorandum of understanding was signed, establishing a framework for enhanced cooperation between the customs administrations of both nations.

The agreement, signed at the headquarters of Belgium's General Administration of Customs and Excise, aims to promote the exchange of experiences, information, and intelligence. It will also strengthen early warning mechanisms, facilitate the sharing of risk analyses, and track methods used by criminal networks. Both countries intend to coordinate their positions within the World Customs Organization and foster joint actions to safeguard the integrity of the international supply chain.

This collaboration is driven by a shared interest in confronting the challenges posed by international drug trafficking. Authorities highlighted the increasing use of commercial routes and ports for the illicit movement of drugs as a primary concern. The Dominican Republic reported a record seizure of 37.7 tons of cocaine in 2024, primarily originating from South American countries and intercepted mainly at the Caucedo Multimodal Port.

Belgium's Port of Antwerp, Europe's second-largest, is a significant entry point for cocaine into the continent. Its high volume of container traffic makes it conducive to concealing illicit cargo from Central and South America, or transiting through West Africa. Belgian authorities seized over 500 tons of cocaine between 2019 and 2024, representing the largest confiscations in Europe, with approximately 90% of these interceptions occurring at the Port of Antwerp.