A truck with 522 packages of contraband was seized by the National Customs Service at the Colchane border complex, located 238 kilometers east of Iquique and 3.690 meters above sea level.
The vehicle, with a Bolivian license plate, left the Free Trade Zone and was traveling with an international cargo manifest indicating that it was transporting 510 packages."However, the dimensions and weight did not match and the Supervisory Commission identified a risk and ordered an assessment, finding an excess of 522 packages.", explained the Regional Director of the Iquique Customs, Cristian Molina Silva.
The physical inspection established that the cargo was maliciously stowed to conceal 200 bales of used clothing and another 322 packages with various merchandise. "The importation of used clothing is prohibited to Bolivia and the physical inspection also determined the existence of other goods that were not declared, therefore, the crime of smuggling out was established, sanctioned in the Customs Ordinance." added the Regional Director.
The truck was bound for Oruro and left from Iquique to the Colchane integrated control point, which operates with a double header, meaning that vehicles and passengers entering Chile are controlled in Colchane and those leaving in Pisiga-Bolivia. Notwithstanding this, and before they leave the country, customs analysts inspect the trucks and this is the second case of similar characteristics in recent days, since the previous one also involved a truck with a foreign license plate and that was carrying high-end electronic items.
Capacity figures
The assessment determined that in addition to the 200 bales of used clothing there were also 360 pairs of sneakers, 792 pairs of shoes, 672 collars, 45 boldos and 2.040 pet leashes, 68 saws, 101 drills, 390 drill chucks, 4 biscuit cutters, 52 drill stands, 96 sets of 3-piece pliers, 382 sets of 3-piece pliers, 760 sets of wrenches of different sizes, 62 vehicle grease guns, 1.780 wrenches for mechanical work, 20 sets of seals, 1.920 spatulas, 1.260 gloves, 1.200 box cutter knives, 480 stop valves, 72 sets of 2-piece wrenches for plumbers, 1.000 silicone holders, a pruning machine, 60 saws, 5 manual fuel pumps, 200 sharpening stones and 72 knives, among others. All of the above has a customs value of around US$ 50 thousand dollars.
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
