A major blow to illicit trade: Merchandise valued at RD$22.8 million seized
In a series of strategic operations, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), together with the Specialized Corps for Fuel and Merchandise Control (CECCOM), managed to dismantle illegal trade networks that were operating outside the law. These actions resulted in the seizure of fuel and tobacco products with an estimated value of RD$22.8 million pesos.
Dismantling of a clandestine station in María Trinidad Sánchez
The first operation focused on the company Transporte El Líder, SRL., located on the El Factor–Nagua highway. At this location, authorities dismantled a fuel dispensing station that was operating clandestinely and without the permits required by current regulations.
- 4,500 gallons of diesel fuel seized.
- Technical equipment: suction pump, dispatch meter, and digital DVR recorder.
- Documentation: notebooks with sales records.
- Total value of the items seized at this location: RD$2,299,200.
The raid was coordinated by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes and Offenses Against Health (PEDECSA), under the direction of Magistrate Jhoan Vargas and prosecutors Carlos Castillo and Andrés Chalas. The operation exposed the non-compliance with Hydrocarbon, Environmental, and Health laws, representing a latent danger to the safety of the community.
Operation against cigarette smuggling in Villa Altagracia
Simultaneously, the authorities executed an intervention against the trafficking of tobacco products in the municipal district of San José del Puerto. After an intense pursuit that culminated in the urban area of Villa Altagracia, a cargo truck transporting illegal merchandise was intercepted.
The authorities managed to seize 187 boxes, totaling 1,870,000 units of Capital brand cigarettes, valued at RD$20.5 million.
During this procedure, José Alberto Abreu, who worked as an assistant in the vehicle, was arrested, while the driver managed to evade the authorities and is being actively sought. The cargo and the individual involved were transported under military custody to the CECCOM headquarters to continue with the legal process.
Strengthening oversight
These seizures reaffirm the commitment of government entities to protect the formal economy and public health against criminal structures. According to official data, during the first seven months of 2026, the MICM and CECCOM have seized approximately 213,355 gallons of fuel, intensifying their control efforts throughout the national territory to ensure compliance with the Dominican legal framework.
