Sexual exploitation network dismantled in Dominican tourist zone

La Altagracia.- The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested preventive detention for three Dominican citizens and one Haitian involved in a human trafficking network aimed at sexual exploitation in Verón, Punta Cana. The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office against Illicit Trafficking of Migrants and Human Trafficking (PETT) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of La Altagracia are leading the investigation.

The main perpetrators have been identified as Domingo Lorenzo Santana (leader), Reyna Julissa Solano Monción (driver), Richard de La Cruz Camacho and Haitian citizen Berlin Erisme.

The group was captured after authorities raided a business disguised as a family home, where they rescued 20 victims, including women and adolescents from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela and Colombia. The network allegedly charged between $200 and $600 for sexual services, mainly targeting tourists. The Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services of La Altagracia has scheduled a hearing for Friday, August 30.

The investigation uncovered significant evidence, including financial records, payments for sexual services, and cash in both Dominican pesos and U.S. dollars. The Prosecutor’s Office presented nearly 300 pieces of evidence to support the charges, including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, pimping, and money laundering. They emphasized their continued commitment to dismantling such criminal organizations.