A million-dollar cigarette smuggling was detected inside a tank that simulated transporting acid. The detection was made by inspectors of the National Customs Service of Chile at the El Loa outpost (north) and prevented the commercialization of 175 thousand packs who were trying to evade more than $381 million in taxes (USD 470 thousand).
El Regional Director of the Iquique Customs, Cristian Molina Silva, explained that during the controls on vehicles and loads leaving the free zone extension, a truck driver with a 28-liter semitrailer appeared at the El Loa outpost. “The tank displayed pictograms and warning signs associated with the transport of acid, however it had certain details and inconsistencies that motivated a more detailed review and it was established that the interior of the tank was full of boxes of contraband cigarettes,” said Molina.
The manager explained that the pond had its interior covered with resin and hid 125 thousand packs of Carnival brand cigarettes y 50 thousand of the Hills brand"This type of smuggling is unprecedented and demonstrates the logistical and economic capacity of criminal gangs dedicated to smuggling, given that in addition to modifying the truck they had to cut the bales of cigarettes and stack them millimetrically inside the tank, which also had a tiny access," he added.
The Freightliner tractor-trailer and the Vergara semi-trailer were seized by Customs, while the cigarettes were sent for destruction through a chain of custody.
The Legal Advisory Department of the Iquique Customs Office filed a criminal complaint against all those involved.
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