Army arrests more than 13,000 undocumented persons in eight days

SD. The Army of the Dominican Republic (ERD) reported that over the last eight days, after the initiation of Operation Shield, they have delivered 13,300 undocumented persons to the Directorate of Immigration in order to proceed with their extradition. At least 16 persons who deal in the trafficking of illegal foreigners have been arrested by the authorities.

In a press release yesterday, the military institution said that within these actions they have seized 9 firearms and confiscated together with the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD), 12 pounds of marijuana, as well as dozens of grams of cocaine.

The Army also reported the seizure of some 50 cases of different alcoholic beverages, 45 cases of cigarettes and the seizure of some 60 motorcycles that in their majority were used to transport illegal foreigners.

As he offered statistics from the Operation Shield, the commanding general of the ERD, Major General José Eugenio Matos de la Cruz, told reporters that everything is under control on the frontier between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He announced that these containment operations will continue in order to prevent the illegal entry of persons all along the frontier.

"The assignment from the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant general William Muñoz Delgado, through Operation Shield, is to redouble the efforts to achieve a safe and calm frontier," noted Major General Matos de la Cruz.

The mission of Operation Shield is to deal with the transfer of illegal foreigners, as well as illegal traffic of merchandise, arms and other crimes as well is prevent incidents in the frontier provinces.

Last week, after Dominican installations on the frontier at Pedernales were stoned by mobs of Haitians, Matos de la Cruz visited the provinces of Dajabon, Pedernales and Jimani, where he met with the authorities of the frontier localities in order to explain to them the extent of the military operation.