Judge Bernardo Coplín García, of the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services of Santo Domingo Este, imposed this Friday a year of preventive detention once morest the five men involved in the international trafficking network that put at least three of the Dominicans who died on their way to the United States in an accident in Mexico.
Coplín García declared the case of complex processing and established that the detained group must serve the deprivation of their liberty in the prisons of Santo Domingo Norte (La Victoria), San Pedro de Macorís and Baní.
The Public Ministry accuses Guillermo Guzmán Marcano, Leonel Antonio Méndez Arias (The hard), Roman Alberto Casalinovo Trinidad (Guard), Saint Francisco Vizcaíno Guerrero already Jesus Antonio Martinez Diaz to promote, induce and finance the illicit trafficking of persons, in violation of Law 137-03, on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, and Law 155-17, on Money Laundering.
The investigation of the prosecuting body establishes that the accused belonged to the dismantled network, which was dedicated to traffic people from Santo Domingo to the United States, through countries such as Guatemala, Panama and Mexico, for which he transported the undocumented in cargo vehicles.
As part of the mass trafficking routes of undocumented immigrants to the United States, some 11 Dominicans died in a road accident that occurred on the Chiapas highway, Mexico.
The group of traffickers submitted by the Public Ministry was detained during an operation carried out simultaneously in Baní and San Pedro de Macorís, with raids coordinated by the Special Prosecutor for Illicit Trafficking in Migrants and Human Trafficking and the Special Crime Investigation Division. Transnationals (Deidet) of the National Police.
The criminal organization charged up to $ 20,000 per person trafficked, so its members managed to accumulate sumptuous properties, including high-end vehicles, the agency said.
Analysis: International Human Trafficking Network Dismantled in Dominican Republic
In a significant development in the ongoing fight against human trafficking, Judge Bernardo Coplín García of the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services of Santo Domingo Este has imposed a year of preventive detention on five men involved in an international trafficking network. This network is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of at least three Dominicans who were attempting to reach the United States via Mexico.
The Dominican Republic has long been a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, with cases of sex trafficking and labor trafficking being particularly prevalent [[1]]. The 2003 Law on Human Smuggling and Trafficking (Law 137-03) criminalized both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, but the problem persists due to various factors, including corruption and organized crime [[2]].
In recent times, there have been efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks operating in the country. For instance, a sexual exploitation network was dismantled in a tourist area in August 2024 [[3]]. However, the latest case highlights the complexity and international nature of these networks, which often involve multiple countries and various forms of trafficking.
Judge Coplín García’s decision to declare the case of complex processing and impose preventive detention on the five men involved is a significant step towards holding perpetrators accountable. The fact that the detained group will serve their sentence in the prisons of Santo Domingo also suggests that the authorities are taking steps to ensure that those responsible for human trafficking are brought to justice.
However, the case also highlights the need for continued concerted efforts to combat human trafficking in the Dominican Republic. The fact that at least three Dominicans died on their way to the United States via Mexico underscores the risks and vulnerabilities faced by those who fall prey to human trafficking networks.
the dismantling of the international trafficking network in the Dominican Republic is a significant development in the fight against human trafficking. However, it is only one part of a larger solution. Sustained efforts are needed to address the root causes of human trafficking, including poverty, lack of opportunities, and corruption. Only through a comprehensive approach can we hope to prevent further tragedies and ensure that those responsible for human trafficking are brought to justice.
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