Organized Crime in the Dominican Republic: A Comprehensive Overview

Organized Crime

The Dominican Republic is plagued by organized crime groups that dominate various sectors of the country’s economy. Here are some key points about the current state of organized crime:

Types of Organized Crime Groups

Gangs involved in drug retailing, extortion, racketeering, and money laundering: These gangs have significant territorial control and often provide services within their territories.
Criminal networks involved in human trafficking, smuggling, and environmental crimes: Other types of organized crime groups are also present in the country.

Leadership and Governance

The government’s response to organized crime has been lackluster, despite warnings about its threat. Here are some key issues related to leadership and governance:

Corruption

High levels of perceived corruption: The country is plagued by systemic issues that have not been tackled by recent administrations.
Major flaws in the framework for combating and deterring corruption: There are significant problems with the current system, which hinders efforts to combat corruption.

Criminal Justice and Security

The judiciary and law enforcement agencies face numerous challenges in addressing organized crime. Here are some key issues:

Judiciary

Political interference, corruption, and inadequate resources: The judiciary often suffers from these problems, which undermine its effectiveness.
Challenges with high levels of corruption: Law enforcement is also challenged by corruption, but has made some improvements.

Security

Vulnerability due to geographic location: The country’s location along major drug-trafficking routes makes it vulnerable to organized crime.
Establishment of dedicated units for narcotics, human trafficking, and cybercrime: Despite these challenges, law enforcement has made efforts to improve its capabilities.

Economic and Financial Environment

The Dominican Republic has a dynamic economy with sustained growth, but also significant informal economic activity. Here are some key issues related to the economic and financial environment:

Informal Economy

Significant informal economic activity: This sector is a major challenge for the government, as it undermines efforts to combat organized crime.
Moderate risk of money laundering: The country’s economy has weaknesses in its financial controls and corruption levels.

While there are initiatives underway to support victims and witnesses, more needs to be done. Here are some key issues related to civil society and social protection:

Victim Support

Right to protection for victims and witnesses: The penal code provides this right, but the efficiency of witness protection programs has been questioned.
Lack of mechanisms to support trafficking victims: There are initiatives underway to assist drug users, including an opioid substitution program.

Overall, the report highlights significant challenges related to organized crime, corruption, and economic vulnerabilities in the Dominican Republic. While some progress has been made on law enforcement and civil society initiatives, further efforts are needed to address these issues effectively.