At the inaugural Miami Security Forum hosted by the Heritage Foundation, Dominican Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful delivered a comprehensive address on her nation’s remarkable security achievements and regional cooperation efforts. Representing President Luis Abinader at the Trump National Doral venue, Raful presented compelling data showing the Dominican Republic’s homicide rate plummeted to a historic low of 8.15 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025—marking a substantial 15% reduction from 2024 figures.
This dramatic improvement positions the Caribbean nation as the second safest country throughout Central America and the Caribbean region. Minister Raful attributed this success to three key strategic initiatives: evidence-based management through the Citizen Security Data Analysis Center, the significant expansion of police forces with 9,503 new officers, and comprehensive institutional reforms currently under legislative consideration in the Senate.
The minister further highlighted extraordinary progress in combating drug trafficking, revealing that narcotics seizures have increased fivefold since 2019, reaching an impressive 48.3 metric tons in 2025. On economic matters, Raful emphasized the robust trade relationship with the United States, which surpassed $18.9 billion, complemented by substantial diaspora remittances exceeding $11.8 billion.
Beyond bilateral relations, the forum facilitated crucial regional discussions. Minister Raful engaged in substantive dialogue with Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón regarding Caribbean security modernization and coordinated crime prevention strategies. The minister also addressed the ongoing Haitian crisis, characterizing it as a hemispheric challenge demanding collective international response rather than isolated national solutions.