Two containers with 21.576 counterfeit bottles imitating the Stolichnaya brand were detected and detained by inspectors of the National Customs Service in the port of Arica (west coast of South America). The merchandise came from Peru and its initial destination was Montevideo, Uruguay, but the consignee changed the documentation and intended to introduce it into the northern part of Chile, reported the customs service of that country.
According to the statement, the Undersecretary of Finance, Francisco Moreno Guzmán, highlighted the intervention and explained that despite the complex global context due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “our controls of Customs maintain their operations and efficiency to bring peace of mind to the country. On the one hand, various strategies have been developed to facilitate and support the fluidity of international trade, while in terms of inspection, efforts are focused on providing the necessary health protection to the entire community and members of the logistics chain.”
Moreno said that this is one of the largest interventions carried out at a national level for this type of product, in addition to avoiding trademark crime and deception of consumers, "the marketing of a product is prevented product of dubious origin that can put health at risk of the community".
Customs officers perform risk analysis on goods. Photo: Chilean Customs
The National Director of Customs, José Ignacio Palma Sotomayor, explained that due to the volume of cargo in international trade, in addition to the physical inspections at the points of entry into the country carried out by Customs, "Document reviews are also carried out prior to the arrival of the goods by Risk Analysis Units. At this stage, specialized professionals study different variables and They support their networking with other customs offices in the country and around the world. This is how a risky operation was identified and we achieved this important seizure.".
In this way, and thanks to the Illicit Traffic Control Department of the National Customs Directorate and the Risk Analysis Unit of Arica, two containers with boxes of Vodka from Peru destined for Uruguay were identified.
"Once in Arica, the consignee changed the destination to leave the merchandise in Chile, which is why the operation was blocked and through a physical inspection the presence of merchandise that emulates the logos and designs of Stolichnaya vodka was established.“Palma Sotomayor added.
She filed a criminal complaint for the crime of smuggling and trademark infringement. Photo: Chilean Customs
The Regional Director of the Arica Customs, Osvaldo Osorio Iglesias, indicated that the two containers seized contained a total of 21.576 bottles of vodka, each of 1 litre, imitating the international Stolichnaya. Once the seizure was carried out, samples were taken to compare them with the legal firm that represents the brand and the parent company in Holland confirmed that they were counterfeits.
"ACustoms must ensure compliance with both Chilean regulations and international agreementss, for which reason the merchandise was retained pursuant to laws No. 19.912 regulating the agreements of the World Trade Organization and No. 19.039 on Industrial Property“l,” said Osorio Iglesias.
Given all this background, the Legal Department of the Arica Customs filed a criminal complaint with the Arica Prosecutor's Office for the crime of smuggling and trademark infringement against the importer who has his domicile in Arica.
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