Dominican Customs seizes millions of cigarettes and lots of ammunition

[Dolores]

Members of the Customs Agency (DGA) seized a freight container that originated in Brooklyn, New York, and its contents: over three million cigarettes and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The false customs declaration stated the container contained “different packages, including household goods, PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), and other stuff.” The 6,000 rounds of ammunition were for pistols (9mm) and shotguns (12, 16, and 20 gauge).

According to the DGA, the total customs bill would have been over RD$16 million.

It should be noted that there has been an increasing incidence of contraband cigarettes during the year, as reports of seizures along the border with Haiti continue to appear almost weekly.

The Customs Agency reports having seized 67 million cigarettes in 2024 that would have evaded taxes of RD$394 million.

Diario Libre editorializes on how...

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[windeguy]

Makes one wonder how often this kind of shipment is actually caught.

 

[Fulano2]

What I don’t understand is..cigarettes are dirt cheap in the DR so what are the benefits on contraband?

 

[Joseph NY2STI]

I guess writing "and other stuff" on the customs declaration was the tip off.

 

[CristoRey]

What I don’t understand is..cigarettes are dirt cheap in the DR so what are the benefits on contraband?

From what I'm told they're often stolen so 100% profit.

 

[slinger]

Ah, the ever so popular 16 gauge.

 

[JD Jones]

What I don’t understand is..cigarettes are dirt cheap in the DR so what are the benefits on contraband?

I'm guessing you missed this line in the article:

"The Customs Agency reports having seized 67 million cigarettes in 2024 that would have evaded taxes of RD$394 million."

 

[Notengo]

What I don’t understand is..cigarettes are dirt cheap in the DR so what are the benefits on contraband?

In comparison cheaper but close to 300 pesos for a normal pack now. Looks about 1/3 is tax.

 

[malko]

What I don’t understand is..cigarettes are dirt cheap in the DR so what are the benefits on contraband?

Not so much anymore. Around 3k pesos for a paquete ( 10 packs ) vs 800 or 900 pesos for "tax free" brands.

 

[Fulano2]

In comparison cheaper but close to 300 pesos for a normal pack now. Looks about 1/3 is tax.

Oké. Well I don’t smoke cigarettes but bought the last trip for someone over here ten packages for something like 1500 pesos, Hilton was the brand I think.