Pretrial Detention for One of Two Dominicans Charged with Transporting Undocumented Haitians in Barahona
A judge in Barahona ordered measures against two Dominicans accused of transporting six undocumented Haitians. One will go to prison.
Key points
- Wanchi Pérez Guzmán received three months of pretrial detention, to be served at the Neiba public prison.
- Yeral Miguel Recio Medrano was ordered to periodic check-ins and to pay a financial bond.
- The arrest took place at 5:30 a.m. on October 17, 2026, during a police operation.
- The six foreigners were traveling in a brown Toyota bus, plate I007320.
The Barahona Juzgado de la Instrucción ordered coercive measures against two Dominican men charged with transporting six Haitian nationals in irregular migration status. The information was released by the Dominican Directorate General of Migration (DGM).
The court ordered Wanchi Pérez Guzmán held in pretrial detention for three months, to be served at the Neiba public prison. For Yeral Miguel Recio Medrano, the judge ordered periodic check-ins and payment of a financial bond.
The arrest was carried out at 5:30 a.m. On October 17, 2026, during a police operation. The two men were riding in a brown Toyota bus, plate I007320, in which they were transporting the six foreigners without migration documents.
After the arrest, the case file was opened and judicial follow-up was coordinated until the precautionary measures were obtained. In a statement, the head of Migration, Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, ARD, reaffirmed his commitment to work with the Public Ministry to pursue illegal migrant trafficking and enforce the law.
Why it matters
The measure is part of efforts to curb illegal migrant smuggling in southern Dominican Republic, according to the Directorate General of Migration.
With additional reporting from: Diario Libre · El Nuevo Diario