A multi-agency enforcement operation in the Dominican Republic has successfully removed 73 unauthorized structures illegally built within the protected boundaries of the Hoyo Claro Natural Monument in the Verón region. Led by the country’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the intervention brought together a coalition of law enforcement and environmental bodies including the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA), the Dominican Republic Army, and the General Directorate of Migration, alongside specialized environmental enforcement technicians and legal experts to execute the land recovery mission.
During on-site inspections, authorities identified a wide range of illegal constructions, from a fully formed concrete building to a partially completed development. Heavy construction equipment was deployed to safely demolish the structures and clear all leftover building materials from the protected natural site. Interestingly, officials noted that many of the structures appeared to have been vacated in the days immediately before the operation launched. While teams found leftover food in cooking vessels at the locations, no individuals were present on site during the demolition work.
In a statement following the operation, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources reaffirmed that this action aligns with the government’s long-standing zero-tolerance policy against unauthorized occupation and development in the country’s network of protected natural areas. Officials also confirmed that routine monitoring will continue at the affected sites to block any new attempts at encroachment. This operation is part of a broader national strategy outlined in Decree 615-26, a landmark policy that designates the prevention and crackdown on environmental destruction as both a high national priority and a core matter of Dominican national security.