The U.S. government, through the Department of Defense, donated an aircraft valued at more than $8 million to the Dominican Republic Ministry of Defense, in support of the shared fight against illicit narcotics trafficking by transnational criminal organizations and in support of the country’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in the event of disasters.
The official ceremony took place at San Isidro Air Base, headed by Dominican Republic Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Díaz Morfa, and Patricia Aguilera, chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy.
The donation of this Cessna model aircraft responds to the Dominican Republic’s success in the fight against narcotrafficking in the region. The aircraft will allow greater control of air and maritime spaces, which will help the Dominican Republic prevent the entry and transit of illicit materials through the country.
It will also serve as another tool to allow the United States and the Dominican Republic to increase interoperability, leading to an even more fluid collaboration to achieve common security objectives.
During the aircraft handover ceremony, the U.S. chargé d’Affaires referred to bilateral cooperation and expressed that “the incredible courage, strength, and teamwork demonstrated daily between the Dominican Republic and the United States to combat transnational crime is only possible because of our strong partnership and shared vision of a secure and crime-free region.”
Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Díaz Morfa emphasized that “this important gesture symbolizes the firm intention of the U.S. to always collaborate, in a decisive and timely manner, in maintaining our high degree of operational readiness, an attribute that has always characterized the actions of our Dominican Armed Forces.”
Likewise, Vice Admiral José M. Cabrera Ulloa, president of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), thanked the U.S. government for the great support the country has received in recent years to confront narcotrafficking and related crimes.
“For us, this cooperation has been very helpful because it has allowed us to strengthen our operational capability and continue to face together the common threats of both peoples,” said Vice Adm. Ulloa.
The event was attended by Major general Carlos R. Febrillet Rodríguez, commanding general of the Dominican Republic Air Force (FARD); Lieutenant Colonel Lowell Krusinger, military attaché of the U.S. Embassy; Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa, president of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD); Luis Soto, director general of the National Investigations Department (DNI); and Brigadier General Alberto Montás Castillo.