Since January 2, 2015 was launched the "Operation Shield" all along the Dominican border "We have established the operational capacity and increased controls on the border line, both land, air and sea. Border controls of the CESFRONT (Cuerpo Especializado de Seguridad Fronteriza Terrestre) and the army in the region and the work of our intelligence services have been intensified in order to preserve the integrity of our territory," declared Munoz Delgado, the Dominican Minister of Defence.

General Carlos Aguirre, Commander of CESFRONT confirmed that as part of this Operation, there are constantly patrolling along the border. He indicated that these patrols are moving from one place to another, adding that it is well-equipped forces ready to intervene to avoid unfortunate incidents at the border. He clarified that the soldiers are in 15-day rotation in the border area.

Since the beginning of the operation, the soldiers of the Armed Forces in collaboration with the immigration authorities have arrested and repatriated to Haiti, the last 14 days, more than 15,000 Haitians trying to enter illegally in Dominican territory.

Always in the context of the "Operation Shield", he indicated that the Dominican army had arrested 16 undocumented traffickers and seized during this period: 9 guns, more than 6 kg of drugs, 50 cases various alcoholic beverages and 45 of contraband cigarettes and nearly 60 motorcycles used for the transportation of Haitian illegal immigrants. The General Aguirre added that the identity of all Haitians trying to enter illegally is checked to determine if they are fugitive from the Haitian justice.*

Furthermore, the deputy Vinicio Castillo Semán stated that the Commission border of the Dominican House of Representatives has prepared a new bill that proposes the construction of a wall along the border with Haiti and a road linking the border provinces, to ensure safety, mainly to stop the massive illegal immigration of Haitians who believe be able to benefit from the regularization measures adopted recently in the Dominican Republic, but also to reduce weapons smuggling, trafficking of drugs and human. This bill will be tabled at the next legislature, which begins on 27 February.

Recall that Vinicio Castillo Semán had already proposed in June 2014, the construction of a wall along the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11349-haiti-security-border-wall-project-studied-in-a-dominican-commission.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11307-haiti-politic-toward-the-construction-of-a-wall-along-the-dominican-border.html project that had been rejected.

HL/ HaitiLibre