Police seize 580,000 contraband cigarettes after a chase in Santiago

Santiago de los Caballeros.– Agents of the National Police seized a shipment of 580,000 allegedly smuggled cigarettes during a pursuit that ended with the abandonment of a minibus on the Joaquín Balaguer highway, in Santiago.

According to the official report, members of the police detachment in the Barrio Libertad sector were following a white Nissan minibus when its occupants fled. Subsequently, the vehicle was located abandoned behind the Flea Market, in the Los Tocones sector.

During the inspection carried out in the presence of representatives of the Public Ministry, the authorities found 56 boxes and four half-boxes of Capital brand cigarettes, equivalent to 580,000 units that were allegedly brought into the country illegally.

The authorities explained that each box contained 50 sealed packs of 10 cartons with 20 cigarettes each, while the half-boxes contained 25 packs with the same characteristics.

We recommend reading: Police, Intrant and security agencies launch national road control and crime prevention operation

Preliminary investigations established that the vehicle’s license plate is registered to a citizen whose possible connection to the case is being analyzed by the competent authorities.

The inspection was led by representatives of the Santiago Prosecutor’s Office and the Illicit Trade Investigation Unit of the Attorney General’s Office, as part of joint actions to combat smuggling and other economic crimes.

Both the vehicle and the seized merchandise remained in the custody of the Public Ministry, while investigations continue to identify and capture those responsible for the incident.

The National Police highlighted that this seizure represents a significant blow against networks dedicated to illicit trade and reiterated its commitment to continue confronting activities that affect the national economy and operate outside the law.