The National Investigations Department announced the discovery of 5,000 boxes containing several brands of contraband whisky and liquors as well as two million government tax stickers in a home in Reparto Oquet in Santiago. The haul is estimated to be worth RD$100 million and belongs to businessman Cesar Pichardo, brother of Julio Pichardo, from whom the authorities confiscated 3,800 boxes of liquor at a farm on the La Vega-Moca highway last Thursday.
As reported in El Caribe newspaper, the Customs Department director said he questioned deputy Armed Forces minister Julio Cesar Ventura Bayonet in connection with the contraband shipments. He said that he sent a report to Armed Forces Minister Sigrido Pared Perez and President Leonel Fernandez with the results of the questioning. He said that it was up to the President and chief of staff to reveal the findings.
Meanwhile, the District Attorney’s office reported that brothers Francisco Antonio and Franklin Abreu Garcia had been arrested for handling contraband whisky through their chain of liquor stores.
Since last Wednesday, the Customs Department has announced the confiscation of 12,000 boxes of whisky in the Cibao region. Taking part in the campaign are Colonel Rafael Florentino Perez, regional director of the National Department of Investigations; Blas Santana, Customs legal advisor, and representative of the prosecutors, Renso Honoret, together with the J2 and G2 investigation departments of the armed forces.