An operation carried out by inspectors from the National Customs Service managed to intercept three Bolivian trucks with 854 thousand packets of contraband cigarettes at the border complex of Chungará, Parinacota province, in northern Chile. The vehicles were traveling to the port of Arica and the contraband was in containers with quinoa.
The Presidential Delegate of Arica and Parinacota, Ricardo Sanzana Oteíza, together with the Regional Director of the Arica Customs, James Alarcón Contreras, revealed details of this important seizure that allowed the interception of a total of 1.708 bales of cigarettes, equivalent to 854 thousand packs of Carnival, Hills and Vip brands.
Regional Director James Alarcón said that thanks to the expertise of the inspectors and through the application of documentary filters and the use of risk profiles, "certain variables were established that motivated the physical inspection of three containers that were transported by trucks with Bolivian license plates."
"In this way, it was discovered that there was a significant amount of contraband cigarettes on the large bags of quinoa, which were not declared and lacked documentation proving their legal importation," he added.
El Presidential Delegate, Ricardo Sanzana, He also highlighted the work of the inspectors and the financial impact generated against organized crime gangs, given that tax evasion alone is estimated at USD$ 2,6 million dollars"We will have no tolerance for Organized Crime in any of its magnitudes and expressions, cigarette smuggling being one of them," he stressed.
According to James Alarcón, the foreign trucks were loaded with large bags of Organic Quinoa classified as Golden Royal, which left from La Paz, Bolivia, and was destined for California, United States. “We estimate that this cargo was contaminated at some point during its journey and that the cigarettes would be unloaded before reaching Arica, to be introduced into the Chilean black market,” he added.
The Commissioner of the Fourth Police Station of Chacalluta, Major Miguel Méndez, praised the collaborative work to combat all types of transnational crime. The police provided an escort and security for the transfer due to the volume and value of the cargo.
Aduana News foi o primeiro jornal aduaneiro da Argentina a lançar sua versão digital. Com mais de 20 anos de trajetória, suas publicações e iniciativas têm como objetivo oferecer o conhecimento mais relevante sobre temas aduaneiros, contribuindo para a promoção do comércio seguro e da facilitação do comércio na região.
