Woman sentenced to three years for selling stolen police ammunition to Haitian citizens
Miguelina Bello Segura received a three-year sentence under Operation Pandora, which investigates trafficking in ammunition from the Dominican National Police.
Conviction in Operation Pandora: court sentences individual involved in police ammunition trafficking
The Second Court of Instruction of the National District condemned Miguelina Bello Segura to three years' imprisonment, a member of a network under investigation for theft and commercialisation of ammunition belonging to the Dominican National Police, according to revistamercado.do. The accusation contends that Bello Segura was clandestinely selling bullets of various calibres to Haitian citizens.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Kenya Romero after ratifying an agreement between the defendant and the Public Prosecutor's Office. Bello Segura admitted the facts charged, pleaded guilty and expressed her willingness to collaborate with authorities in the case known as Operation Pandora.
The court suspended half of the sentence under specific conditions. The condemned woman must serve one year and six months of home detention, respect the rules of conduct set during the suspension period and remain at a fixed residence. If she changes her address, she must notify the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Sentence Execution Judge. The full reading of the sentence is scheduled for 5 November 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
Operation Pandora: millions in equipment stolen
Operation Pandora was launched in November 2024 to investigate the irregular removal of ammunition and other equipment under the custody of the Weapons Department of the National Police. The Public Prosecutor's Office claims that an organised structure extracted and commercialised thousands of rounds and materials from the police institution. The alleged shortfall linked to that theft amounts to RD$92,191,732.92, according to the fiscal accusation.
The irregularities are attributed to materials that were under the custody of the Weapons Department during the management of Colonel Narciso Antonio Féliz Romero, former head of that unit. Captain Nelson Valdez, who directed the Weapons, Ammunition and Equipment Storage facility of the institution, is also listed as a defendant.
The case includes charges of embezzlement, coalition of officials, misconduct and association of criminals, as well as alleged violations of Law 631-16 on firearms and Law 155-17 on money laundering and financing of terrorism.
Background: another conviction arising from the same case
In September 2026, Marino Antonio Rodríguez Toribio, also prosecuted under Operation Pandora, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment under home detention. His sentence included a fine equivalent to ten minimum wages of the public sector, forfeiture of confiscated property and the permanent closure of the company Tactical Accesories RH, S.R.L., which he represented.
Process continues for other defendants
The Second Court of Instruction of the National District issued an order to open the substantive trial against Féliz Romero, Nelson Valdez and other defendants linked to the case, including Víctor Manuel Santos Rodríguez, Juan Luis Díaz Medina, Ángel Rubiel Martínez Bacilio and Morelbin Medina Pérez.
Several of the defendants had their pre-trial detention varied for an economic guarantee of RD$500,000 through an insurance company, together with a ban on leaving the country. The precautionary measures do not amount to a conviction; the process must determine the individual responsibilities of those who remain accused.
Source: Google News DO — Crime