SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — In a significant move, Dominican authorities have detained a colonel along with nine police officers suspected of stealing firearms and ammunition from the police armory and selling them illegally, some of which were allegedly funneled to criminals in Haiti, a nation grappling with escalating violence.
The operation, which commenced on Sunday, remains active as law enforcement officials persist in identifying and confiscating stolen military supplies. This investigation was prompted by a thorough audit of the armory’s inventory.
An official report obtained recently reveals critical insights into the investigation, indicating that the pilfered military supplies found their way into the hands of Haitian nationals. According to the document, one of the detained suspects, identified as a woman residing in the southern province of Pedernales near the Haitian border, is accused of taking delivery of numerous boxes of ammunition, selling them for prices ranging between $86 and $99 each. Miguelina Bello Segura reportedly sold these supplies to Haitians who were known to use them in criminal activities.
The report further mentions that the arrested colonel, Narciso Antonio Feliz Romero, received cash payments concealed in a backpack from an officer involved in the ammunition sales through a Haitian contact. Legal representatives for both Bello and Feliz have yet to comment on the allegations against their clients.
Authorities claim that this network, allegedly orchestrated by Feliz, illegally dealt more than 900,000 rounds of ammunition. However, there are currently no specifics regarding the types and quantities of weapons that may have been sold, nor when these illicit activities began, as further details are withheld pending the investigation’s progression.
Dominican President Luis Abinader has been vocal about the ongoing crisis in Haiti, leading to strained relations between the neighboring countries, which include measures targeting migrants and constructing a border wall along the shared land on Hispaniola.
Wilson Camacho, who heads the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office focusing on administrative corruption, characterized this case as “extremely serious,” emphasizing its implications for national security.
A United Nations report released last year indicated that the flow of weapons and ammunition into Haiti predominantly comes from the Dominican Republic, with some contributions from Jamaica. Recently, Haiti has witnessed a surge in violence, with well-armed gangs overtaking formerly peaceful neighborhoods and even forcing the temporary closure of the main international airport amid attacks on commercial flights.