May 1, 2026
On July 21, during a routine patrol in La Yagua, in the province of Valverde, the Dominican Republic Army (ERD) intercepted an abandoned Jeep Cherokee 4×4 containing “14 Haitian nationals in an irregular migration situation.” According to authorities, the 14 individuals — nine men, three women, and two minors — were inside the vehicle when the driver fled upon seeing the soldiers.
According to El Día, after the driver’s escape, the military operation continued until the vehicle was seized. It was identified as a blue Jeep Cherokee with license plate G535958. All detained individuals, including the minors, lacked valid immigration documents and were subsequently transferred to the 4th Infantry Brigade in Mao for legal processing.
This operation is part of the ERD’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border control and combat irregular human trafficking along the northwestern frontier, Teleradio América reported. It follows a series of similar interventions in the region, highlighting a more proactive military strategy in response to the growing number of unauthorized crossings from Haiti.
