Following Operation Tornado in the northern Chilean region, Customs and Carabineros officials arrested four people and seized 30.329 boxes of cigarettes, while raiding 12 homes in Arica, Iquique, Tocopilla and Antofagasta (north), identified as storage areas for contraband products.
How did the operation originate?
The operation was carried out based on information and intelligence analysis carried out by the Risk Analysis Units (UAR) of the Arica Customs and the Carabineros.
In this regard, the Regional Director of the Arica Customs, Hugo Yávar Oñate, explained that thanks to the inter-institutional work Different units from the northern zone were activated and operations were carried out simultaneously on certain properties.
The official added: “Under customs powers, entry and search warrants were issued in search of foreign goods illegally brought into the country. To this end, there was support from the public force in the event of any opposition.”
As a result, customs officers and carabinieri intervened a total of 12 properties and seized 30.329 cigarette boxes y 1.175 garments of fake clothing. All the merchandise was intended to avoid taxes for more than 124 thousand dollars.
Why is the operation relevant?
The relevance of the operation, according to the Head of the Arica and Parinacota Region Zone, General Mauricio González Marín, was in the police deployment which involved raids in different regions and the dismantling of gangs dedicated to smuggling.
"It is a joint effort with Customs, in which officers from the Carabineros OS7 and the Special Operations Group (Gope) participated. There was significant planning, which demonstrates the response capacity and good relations between the institutions involved," said González Marín.
Message to the community
General Gonzalez made a strong call to the community to report this type of illegal acts He explained: “These seemingly innocent crimes cause tremendous damage to the country's economy, since those merchants who pay their taxes see their businesses diminished and this is something that affects all Chileans. For this reason, I reiterate the call to report these people who are profiting from smuggling.”
Ant smuggling
At the same time, the Regional Director of Customs, Hugo Yávar, explained that in addition to the entry of cigarettes by steps not enabled there is ant type transport: “Unfortunately, many international travelers misuse their allowance and enter through the Chacalluta border crossing with two cartons of cigarettes, which they then hand over to third parties for storage and shipment to the south.”
The arrest of those involved was carried out at the Arica Court of Guarantee and all were charged with receiving stolen goods and smuggling. They were given precautionary measures and risk penalties ranging from prison to fines of up to 5 times the value of the goods.
Seizures in 2017 and 2018
In 2017, Customs and Police managed to seize more than 10 million 745 thousand boxes of contraband cigarettes throughout Chile, that is, they prevented tax evasion of more than $ 44 million.
In the meantime, these five months of 2018, joint work prevented a tax evasion 13 million, with the majority of seizures concentrated in the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta and Valparaíso (center).
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