Dominican Republic

Drug-related offenses, including those involving marijuana, carry severe penalties in the Dominican Republic.

Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and big fines.

Cannabis is illegal in the Dominican Republic, and possession of any amount is a criminal offense — there is no decriminalized or tolerated quantity. Under Ley 50-88, possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana is prosecuted as "simple possession," punishable by 6 months to 2 years in prison plus a fine; larger amounts are prosecuted as distribution or trafficking, with prison terms of up to 20 or 30 years. Both the US and UK governments warn that even small quantities lead to arrest, that cases can take years while the accused is held in detention, and that convicted foreigners must serve their full sentence in the country before being deported.

Under Art. 75 of Ley 50-88: simple possession (for marijuana, up to 20 g — Art. 6) is punished with 6 months to 2 years in prison and a fine of RD$1,500.00 to RD$2,500.00; distributors, vendors and intermediaries with 3 to 10 years and a fine of RD$10,000.00 to RD$50,000.00 (Art. 75 Párrafo I); traffickers (more than one pound of marijuana) with 5 to 20 years and a fine of no less than the value of the drugs involved and never less than RD$50,000.00 (Art. 75 Párrafo II); sponsors with 30 years and a fine of no less than RD$1,000,000.00 (Art. 75 Párrafo III). Importing or exporting drugs is punished with 5 to 20 years and a fine of at least RD$250,000.00, or 30 years and at least RD$1,000,000.00 if the Dominican Republic is the final destination (Art. 59). Foreign defendants cannot be deported until the case concludes and any sentence is served in full; after serving it they are expelled and barred from re-entry (Art. 79). Fine amounts are the statutory figures in Dominican pesos as the consolidated text reads.

Confirm your medication is legal and listed by the Ministry of Public Health, carry it in original labeled packaging, and bring a copy of your prescription.

Medications not legal or listed locally may be confiscated or lead to legal trouble.

Traveling to the Dominican Republic with a firearm - or even a stray bullet or spent shell casing in your luggage - can get you arrested; U.S. citizens have been arrested in the Caribbean over shell casings in suitcases, and the U.S. Embassy cannot get you out of jail.

Steep fines, confiscation (including vehicles), prison, or a lifetime entry ban.

You must declare US$10,000 or more (or equivalent) both when entering and when leaving the Dominican Republic.

Undeclared currency can be seized and carry penalties.

Seat belts and motorcycle helmets are required, and in car-vs-motorcycle collisions the car driver is usually found at fault regardless of circumstances.

Violators may be fined; after serious accidents drivers are often detained.