Dominican Government Boosts Border With 11,000 Troops and Rallies 19 Countries Against Cartels

The Dominican government has deployed 11,000 troops along its border and gathered 19 countries against organized crime.

According to the Presidency of the Dominican Republic, President Luis Abinader said the Dominican border is at its highest level of protection and warned that he will not allow Haitian criminal gangs within 20 kilometers of national territory. To that end, the Armed Forces maintain 11,000 soldiers deployed for surveillance and border patrol, supported by drones, armored vehicles and intelligence capabilities.

At the same time, the president opened the Americas Coalition Against Cartels (A3C) conference, with security and defense authorities from 19 countries. The meeting coordinated actions against drug trafficking, narco-terrorism and transnational organized crime through information sharing and stronger institutional capacity.

On the prison front, the third National Meeting in Support of Penitentiary Reform reported the simultaneous construction of nine prison centers, two of which, in Higüey and Barahona, are already ready.

On food security, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu recognized the country's progress during World Food Day, led by Abinader. The Dominican Republic reduced undernourishment to below 2.5%, allowing it to leave the Hunger Map.

On the economy, according to figures presented by the government, foreign direct investment reached USD 4,525.1 million between January and September 2026, up 3.7% from the same period in 2025. Goods exports totaled USD 13,246.4 million, roughly 14% more than a year earlier.