Dominican Republic says U.S.-backed strike on narcotics boat carried more than a ton of cocaine
Go Fast speedboat intercepted in international waters carried about 1,000 kilograms of cocaine; authorities say hundreds of packages were seized and sent for forensic analysis as Dominican-U.S. cooperation expands
A U.S.-backed airstrike on a drug-smuggling speedboat in international waters led Dominican authorities to recover about 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, according to the Dominican Republic's National Drug Control Directorate and navy. The operation, conducted in coordination with U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South), is described as the Caribbean's first joint narcoterrorism intervention between the two countries.
Officials said the vessel, described as a Go Fast speedboat, was detected heading toward Dominican territory with the intention of using the country as a bridge to reach the United States. The interdiction occurred about 80 nautical miles south of Isla Beata, and authorities said hundreds of packages were seized in the aftermath. The seized material was sent, under chain of custody, to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) to determine its exact type and weight.
Authorities also cited a separate joint operation on Sept. 22, 2024, in which they interdicted 377 packages of cocaine 80 nautical miles south of Isla Beata. This operation underscores ongoing Dominican Republic–United States cooperation in maritime interdiction and the Dominican government 's commitment to disrupting narcotics trafficking networks in the Caribbean.
Officials described the event as the first joint operation against narcoterrorism in the Caribbean region conducted by the Dominican Republic and the United States. The Go Fast boat was headed toward Dominican territory with narcotics to be transported to the United States, according to the DNA/ DNCD release. The United States provided support as part of a broader maritime enforcement collaboration with regional partners.
The incident fits into a broader pattern of international cooperation aimed at disrupting drug-trafficking networks in the Caribbean and western Atlantic, with authorities emphasizing ongoing investigations and forensic analyses to determine the precise contents and weight of the seized material.
