Onions, tomatoes, garlic and bananas were supposedly transported by a Peruvian truck driver from Arica to Santiago de Chile, however, it was all a set-up because Under the vegetables he was carrying 72.110 packets of contraband cigarettes.
The detection was recorded at the El Loa customs outpost and adds to another equally unusual one carried out in Quillagua, where customs inspectors found 12 bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Whisky and 90.960 packets of cigarettes behind a false wall of a truck.
The Regional Director of the Iquique Customs Office, Cristian Molina Silva, said that the latest case involved a driver of Peruvian nationality and permanent residence in Chile.Upon arrival at customs control, he presented a cargo manifest declaring that he was transporting onions, tomatoes, bananas and garlic. However, the volume of what was described did not match and an appraisal was ordered.
Upon inspection of the cargo, it was determined that beneath the sacks of onions and tomatoes there were a total of 72.110 packs of Carnival Blu cigarettes.The driver hid the cigarettes and could not prove their legal entry into the country, therefore, he committed the crime of smuggling and the merchandise along with his vehicle were seized and the respective complaint was filed.“Molina added.
El The customs value of the cigarettes was estimated at US$ 232.526,35 and the uncollected taxes exceed $187 million pesos.
In another procedure, Customs officers found 614 packets of cigarettes hidden in the doors and trunk of a private vehicle. The owner of the car said that she bought the cigarettes in Tacna, then stored them in Arica and wanted to sell them in Maria Elena. She was also accused of smuggling, The value of the goods was set at US$1.979,91 and the taxes attempted to be avoided exceed one and a half million pesos.
In both cases, offenders risk prison sentences and a fine of up to five times the value of the cargo.
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