Santo Domingo.- Authorities in the Dominican Republic dismantled a network involved in the illegal storage and sale of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, seizing nearly 47 million units valued at approximately RD$532 million.
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) said the operation resulted in the seizure of 2,200 boxes containing 46,957,123 units of expired, counterfeit, adulterated and unregistered medicines, along with medical supplies including gloves, masks, gowns, syringes and girdles.
The operation was carried out in the Los Tres Ojos and Los Frailes II sectors of Santo Domingo Este, with support from the Attorney General’s Office, National Police, Digemaps and Ceccom.
According to the MICM, the network used a two-story house in Los Tres Ojos to store the products, which were transported to Ceccom headquarters using two 45-foot vans, a 22-foot truck and six pickup trucks.
MICM Minister Yayo Sanz Lovatón said authorities will pursue the cases beyond the seizure of the merchandise as part of strengthened efforts to combat illicit trade.
The ministry said the illegal activity posed a serious public health risk and involved tax evasion, violating Law 42-01 (General Health Law) and Law 17-19, which targets illicit trade, smuggling and counterfeiting of regulated products.
The operation forms part of the government’s broader strategy against illicit commerce through the Illicit Goods Committee and the Public-Private Council for Combating Illicit Trade, established under Decree 405-22.