Justice Minister warns of crimes that harm tourism

Santo Domingo.- Justice minister Francisco Dominguez on Monday said holdups, robberies, drug and human trafficking and illegal liens on properties are crimes that harm tourism.

His statement comes two weeks after two groups of children and adolescents were rescued from brothers where they worked as prostitutes and their own parents had sold them to tourists in the town of Sosua, Puerto Plata.

Dominquez said the authorities found eight, 13 and 14 year-old girls at a party, while in another, there were seven more, ages 15, 16 and 18.

He said he has declared war on certain tourists who go to Sosua only for prostitutes and minors, adding Haitian prostitutes are prevalent in the north region, “damaging the possibility of family tourism in some beaches.”