Financial Crime World

The State of Corruption and Organized Crime in the Dominican Republic

Corruption: A Persistent Challenge

The Dominican Republic struggles with a complex issue of corruption that affects various aspects of its society. Despite efforts to combat organized crime, significant shortcomings remain in the country’s anti-corruption framework.

Key Challenges:

  • The absence of a specialized institution dedicated to combating corruption
  • Widespread corruption poses a challenge to law enforcement and hinders effective governance

Organized Crime: A Threat to National Security

The Dominican Republic’s geographic location along major drug-trafficking routes makes it vulnerable to organized crime. The border with Haiti represents a point of tension and vulnerability for the country.

Key Facts:

  • Membership of an organized criminal group is not criminalized
  • Domestic legislation specifically targeting organized criminal groups does not exist

Criminal Justice and Security: A System in Need of Reform

The judiciary often suffers from political interference, corruption, and a lack of adequate resources and personnel. Prison overcrowding hinders progress in establishing social reinsertion systems.

Key Challenges:

  • High levels of corruption pose a challenge to law enforcement
  • The national police have established dedicated units for narcotics, human trafficking, fraud, and cybercrime

Economic and Financial Environment: Vulnerable to Money Laundering

Corruption, a large informal sector, and weak financial controls make the country vulnerable to money laundering and illicit financial flows.

Key Risks:

  • Increasing risks of money laundering and illicit financial flows despite updates to anti-money laundering regulations

Civil Society and Social Protection: A Need for Improved Response

Significant deficiencies exist in the government’s response to victims of human trafficking, including a lack of comprehensive and sufficient specialized services.

Key Challenges:

  • Mechanisms are not in place to effectively identify victims or refer them to care once identified
  • The prosecution of these crimes is ineffective, making it less likely for victims to report such crimes to law enforcement officials