Dominican Republic Investigates Ammunition Found in Haiti Gang’s Arsenal

The Dominican Republic is investigating how ammunition manufactured decades ago and other rounds associated with its security forces reached armed gangs in neighboring Haiti, following findings by a United Nations Security Council panel of experts.

The Ministry of Defense (MIDE) said it has been unable to establish the precise circumstances under which .50-caliber ammunition of historical Dominican origin entered Haitian territory. The investigation comes as the UN panel documents ammunition linked to the country’s military and police stockpiles among material recovered from the 400 Mawozo gang and other armed groups.

In a statement issued on October 8, the ministry said the age of the ammunition and the administrative and institutional changes the country has undergone over the years have complicated efforts to determine its history.

UN report documents ammunition linked to Dominican stockpiles

The UN investigation identified multiple types of ammunition associated with Dominican security institutions in the hands of Haitian armed groups. Its findings include ammunition bearing markings corresponding to the Dominican Army, as well as rounds consistent with material previously identified as having been diverted from the National Police.

In a sample of 89 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition recovered from 400 Mawozo in 2025, investigators found that 25 carried the marking “ERD,” referring to the Dominican Army, while another 16 had markings consistent with ammunition linked to the previously documented diversion from the National Police.

The panel also reported that 908,001 rounds and other ammunition items had been diverted from National Police stockpiles. The documented quantities included more than 489,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, 230,000 rounds of 5.56 x 45 mm, 26,000 rounds of 7.62 x 39 mm and approximately 93,000 shotgun shells.

Some Dominican security experts told the panel that a substantial proportion of the 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm ammunition may have been transferred to Haiti because the domestic market for those calibers is relatively limited and the rounds are widely used by Haitian gangs. However, the precise quantity that reached Haiti remains difficult to establish.

.50-caliber ammunition dates back to the 1950s

The findings concerning .50-caliber ammunition raise a separate tracing challenge. The UN panel documented ammunition produced in the Dominican Republic during the 1950s, including rounds recovered from material associated with 400 Mawozo.

The Ministry of Defense maintains that the age of this ammunition makes it difficult to reconstruct its movements. According to the institution, the authorities have not yet determined exactly how the rounds could have reached Haitian territory.

The ministry also stressed that matching ammunition calibers, markings or characteristics to material legally acquired by the Dominican Republic does not, by itself, prove that the armed forces authorized a transfer. Any conclusions about responsibility must be based on the relevant investigations.

Military officer arrested in separate ammunition case

The ministry cited a December 2025 case as evidence of enforcement action against suspected illegal ammunition transfers. Members of the Dominican Army detained a second lieutenant and a Haitian national in La Tinaja, in San Juan province, while they were allegedly transporting 1,516 rounds of different calibers on a motorcycle.

The officer was brought before the courts over alleged violations of applicable laws and remains in preventive detention, according to the ministry. The case is still proceeding through the judicial system, and the allegations have not been finally adjudicated.

The UN panel also referenced the arrest when seeking information from Dominican authorities about possible points through which ammunition could have been diverted. The ministry said it had provided information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has communicated with the international experts about ammunition procurement, distribution, controls and investigations into potential irregularities.

Dominican authorities pledge further investigations

MIDE said the armed forces maintain procedures for registering, identifying and controlling ammunition and that these mechanisms are subject to ongoing review and improvement.

The ministry also noted that the UN panel recognized the marking of ammunition used by the Dominican Armed Forces as a good practice because it can help investigators identify supplies, trace their origins and examine possible diversions.

The institution reiterated its zero-tolerance position toward illegal conduct by military personnel, regardless of rank, while emphasizing the presumption of innocence and the right to due process.

The investigations are expected to focus on establishing the traceability of the ammunition, clarifying how it entered illicit circulation and determining whether any individuals or institutions bear responsibility. The ministry has not announced a definitive explanation for how the historical .50-caliber rounds reached Haiti.

For the Dominican Republic, the findings underscore the importance of maintaining effective control over ammunition stockpiles and cooperating with international investigations into the weapons and supplies used by armed groups across the border.