In a significant border security operation, military forces of the Dominican Republic have captured a notorious human smuggling operative during an early morning interdiction mission. The arrest occurred in the Mamoncito sector of Monción municipality, Santiago Rodríguez province, where Army (ERD) personnel intercepted a white Jeep transporting six Haitian nationals lacking proper immigration documentation.
The detained individual, identified as Expedito Rodríguez (alias ‘Bobolé’), represents a significant victory for border enforcement authorities. Military reports indicate Rodríguez demonstrated active resistance during apprehension, necessitating the application of controlled restraint techniques by ERD soldiers. The vehicle contained three male and three female migrants of Haitian origin, all found to be in irregular immigration status.
Rodríguez’s criminal history reveals an established pattern of border-related offenses. Previously arrested in May 2023 during Operation Border in Dajabón, the suspect remained under judicial supervision requiring periodic court appearances at the time of his latest apprehension. This recurrence demonstrates the persistent challenges authorities face in combating transnational smuggling networks.
Following standard protocol, both the suspected trafficker and the six migrants were transported to the ERD Fortress in Santiago Rodríguez for processing and subsequent transfer to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The operation highlights the ongoing security efforts along the Dominican-Haitian border region, where human trafficking remains a persistent concern for Caribbean nations.