Federal Agents Investigate Fanjul-Owned Central Romana

Federal agents have launched an investigation into Central Romana Corp., a major sugar exporter to the United States, owned by the Florida-based Fanjul family, over allegations of forced labor.

The Homeland Security investigation builds upon the US Customs and Border Protection decision to block imports of Central Romana sugar after finding evidence of forced labor among the Haitian cane cutters on the company's plantation. It reflects the intensifying scrutiny and legal challenges facing the Fanjuls and Central Romana, whose plantation Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee described as “the closest thing I’ve ever seen to modern slavery.”

The investigation is the focus of new reporting by investigative journalists Michael Montgomery and Sandy Tolan, writing for Mother Jones. They argue that if the investigation leads to criminal charges, it could set a precedent for holding corporations and their executives criminally accountable for labor exploitation in their supply chains.

Residents of a Central Romana batey in 2021. Pedro Farais-Nardi

Montgomery and Tolan also note that instead of making the changes necessary to lift the import ban, the Fanjul-owned Central Romana Corp. has fought the ban. According to the head of an American labor watchdog group active in the Dominican Republic, “Central Romana has wasted the 10 months since the Customs ban pursuing a political escape route rather than doing the right thing: remediating the abusive labor conditions identified by CBP and others."

That political escape route includes a back-channel request by Alfy Fanjul to Biden administration representative (and former Senator) Christopher Dodd to enlist Dodd's help in lifting the ban. 

At the end of the day, the question for the Fanjuls is this: when is enough, enough? The Fanjul family already benefits from American taxpayer largesse through the sugar program in the federal farm bill. They've been called the first family of corporate welfare.

We're not holding our breath, waiting on an answer. Change will come if we make it happen.

Please consider supporting our campaign for sugar industry reform. Help us deliver change to the people who deserve it—in the Dominican Republic and here at home.