The Director General of Customs fired 25 employees yesterday for their roles in contraband valued at RD$164 million. According to the assistant director of Customs, Luis Sanchez, the crew of six attempted to introduce contraband that included foodstuffs, appliances, women’s accessories, cloth and clothing through the industrial free zones of Herrera and Haina. The six have been sent to face charges.
Customs also identified 106 vehicles that entered the country illegally as contraband. These included Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The contraband people used names and invoices of vehicles that had already paid the correct duties. All told, according to Sanchez, the tab, including the applicable fines comes to RD$164 million. As a result of the investigation, the Customs office confiscated the goods and will put them up for auction. Some of the people indicted had been accused in previous cases of fraud.