As a kratom user, before traveling to the Dominican Republic, one vital question to ask is whether or not kratom is legal in the country. Some countries have strict laws surrounding kratom, which could land you in jail for a violation.
In this guide, you will come to understand what the DR law says about kratom and get some practical advice if you plan on bringing kratom into the country.
The list of illegal substances in the Dominican Republic’s official drug laws (Law 50-88) does not mention kratom, Mitragyna Speciosa, or its active alkaloids. While kratom or its alkaloids are not officially listed as illegal substances in the DR, they are also not officially acknowledged as legal by the government either.
For some countries, there are clear regulations allowing or banning the use of kratom, but in the case of the DR, it seems it is treated as unregulated, meaning there are no defined laws associated with the use or possession of kratom.
So, with the unregulated nature of kratom in the Caribbean country, is it ok to travel with it? Reports from those who have traveled to the country with kratom suggest that there’s no problem bringing small quantities for personal use. But you still should be cautious due to the lack of clear regulation surrounding kratom, as individual customs officers might scrutinize it.
Although individual experiences can vary when it comes to visiting a country where kratom is treated as unregulated, we can still learn something from recent travelers’ experiences.
An individual traveling from Philadelphia to Santo Domingo, DR, shared his experience of not encountering any problems with kratom in the country. There are other travelers’ reports of having no issues bringing kratom into the popular island destination.
In most cases, travelers carried both kratom capsules and powder in their checked luggage or carry-ons. No users have reported going through any questioning or additional screening during security checks, even in cases when packing kratom in unoriginal and unmarked bags.
At Santo Domingo’s customs, travelers mention that luggage is randomly screened but that their kratom has never been flagged or scrutinized.
The following tips should guide you when traveling to the DR with kratom:
Note: If you run into issues with customs officials in the DR surrounding kratom, mention that Kratom is not listed in Law 50-88, which outlines the list of controlled substances in the country.
Judging from travelers’ reports in the past few years, it shows that nothing has changed with regards to kratom’s status in the Dominican Republic. From these travelers’ testimonies, it suggests that you should be fine bringing kratom into the country as long as it’s for personal use.
However, because there is no defined information on the use or possession of kratom in the DR, you still need to remain cautious. Yes, it is true that no issues have been reported so far, but the ambiguous status could still pose a risk, especially if you meet a difficult customs officer.
All in all, no incidents of arrest, detention, or product confiscation from kratom users have been reported. But things could change over time, which is why it is advisable to stay updated with the local laws, especially when traveling to countries that have not made any official statements about kratom.
The main words of advice for using kratom in the DR is “keep it discreet.” Whether you are traveling with capsules, powders, or any other form of kratom, keep the amounts modest and store it in a way that minimizes scrutiny.
You don’t need to mention kratom to security officials or law enforcement; however, if asked, you can mention that it is kratom and that it is not listed in the list of DR controlled substances (Law 50-88).
Lastly, stay updated with the local laws in the country, as things may change anytime, but at least in the meantime, kratom appears to likely remain unregulated in the DR for the foreseeable future.
CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The content on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes only. The content below has not been medically reviewed and is not intended to offer advice for use or intended use. For more information about kratom and its potential dangers, please visit the fda.gov site.