Dominican President Appoints Drug Czar During Rubio Visit

‘No nation in the hemisphere has been more cooperative than the Dominican Republic in extraditing dangerous criminals,’ Rubio said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) stands with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader at the end of their joint news conference at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, on Feb. 6, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Luis Abinader, president of the Dominican Republic, announced the appointment of a drug czar after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Feb. 6, confirming a joint effort to fight drug trafficking.

“I thank the U.S. for its support in the fight against drug trafficking, organized crime, and irregular migration, which shows our shared commitment for a Caribbean that is safer and more prosperous,” Abinader said via a translator.