In a coordinated law enforcement operation targeting transnational drug trafficking and money laundering, Dominican legal authorities have executed multiple search warrants at high-end luxury properties in the popular coastal town of Las Terrenas, located in Samaná province. The action centers on an ongoing criminal investigation into Martin Marleau (also known as Polcari), a Canadian national who was taken into custody by Dominican officials in December 2025.
The raid was jointly carried out by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office Against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing and the local Samaná Prosecutor’s Office, with critical backup from the Financial Investigation Directorate under the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD). At the time of Marleau’s initial arrest, law enforcement officers seized approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, 2.42 kilograms of liquid marijuana, and 97 THC-infused electronic cigarettes. Officials also confiscated specialized equipment that investigators allege was used to process and prepare illegal narcotics for distribution.
According to official statements from the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office, Marleau has resided in the country since 2022. Over his stay in the Dominican Republic, investigators have documented a sudden and unexplained surge in his personal wealth, which allowed him to purchase multiple luxury villas, high-performance vehicles, and other high-value assets. Despite extensive financial probes, prosecutors have yet to uncover any verifiable legitimate sources of income that could support this lavish lifestyle. No records of large bank transfers or regular deposits from Canada have been found to explain Marleau’s ability to acquire these expensive assets.
During the recent searches of the exclusive Las Terrenas properties, authorities recovered a range of physical documents and digital records deemed relevant to the money laundering investigation, alongside detailed ownership records for the luxury real estate and vehicles linked to the suspect. All seized evidence is now set to undergo forensic and financial forensic analysis, as investigators work to trace the full network of assets allegedly derived from criminal activity.
The sprawling investigation is being overseen by appellate prosecutor Ramona Nova and Samaná prosecutor Erika Pujols, with lead coordination handled by lead prosecutor Claudio Cordero Jiménez. In a press statement following the raids, Cordero confirmed that investigative teams remain fully focused on uncovering the true origin of the suspect’s assets and holding all connected parties accountable for any criminal or financial violations. Cordero emphasized that the operation is part of a broader push by the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office to dismantle entire transnational criminal networks operating within the country, reaffirming the institution’s unwavering commitment to rooting out organized crime, drug trafficking, and illicit money laundering across the Dominican Republic.