Three Dominican men were detained during the air, sea and land operation off Baní.[1] Acento identified them as Luis Enríquez Díaz Sánchez, Michael Antonio Herrera Guerrero and Víctor Alfonso Morel Díaz.[2] The detainees were placed under the control of the Public Ministry for legal proceedings.[2] The DNCD and the Public Ministry keep an investigation open to identify and detain other possible members of the network linked to the load.[1]
Authorities seized 1,360 packages of cocaine with a preliminary weight of 1.3 tonnes, plus 30 blocks of a substance appearing to be marijuana.[1] Officers found the drugs inside 55 bales aboard the boat, for a reported total of 1,390 packages.[1] The 32-foot boat had no name or registration and carried two 250-horsepower outboard motors.[1] Agents also seized a satellite communications radio, 12 tanks and a fuel jug, plus tarps, ropes, water, energy drinks and food among other evidence.[1] The seized packages were sent under chain of custody to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences, which will determine the exact type and weight through analysis.[1]
The operation began after authorities detected a boat moving through Caribbean waters with a drug load.[1] Authorities maintained surveillance for more than 15 hours until intercepting the launch several nautical miles south of Punta Salinas.[1] The DNCD said the operation off the municipality of Baní had support from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Colombian Air Force.[1] The operation was carried out on 21 August 2026 in coordination with the Dominican Navy, the Dominican Air Force, the Public Ministry, state intelligence bodies, the DEA and the Colombian Air Force.[2] Authorities said the network’s mode of operation consists of introducing drugs from South America using fast boats.[1]
