Large Quantities of Illicit Cigarettes Seized by Dominican Armed Forces

Photo by Ceccom

Smuggling Operation Disrupted in Montecristi Province

The Dominican Republic Army stopped a large cigarette smuggling operation in Montecristi province. They found 6,796,000 illegal cigarettes hidden in two vehicles—a Ford F-150 pickup truck and a Mitsubishi Montero SUV.

The Ford truck had 5 million Capital brand cigarettes. The jeep had 1,796,000 Jaisalmer Menthol cigarettes. Neither shipment was registered with the country’s customs agency.

Seizure and Investigation

The drivers ran away when they saw the soldiers. The army took the cigarettes and vehicles to the 4th Infantry Brigade headquarters. Later, they handed everything over to the fuel control agency (CECCOM) for further investigation.

The unit, which operates under the Ministry of Defense but works closely with other government agencies, especially in cross-border and coastal enforcement, seized nearly 7 million smuggled cigarettes from two abandoned vehicles in Montecristi, later turning them over to authorities for investigation.

Origin of Smuggled Cigarettes

It is not clear where the Capital brand cigarettes came from, since this is not a recognized international brand marketed by a major company.

The Dominican Republic is known as a Caribbean hub for tobacco smuggling. Smuggled cigarettes in the Dominican Republic often originate from neighboring countries, particularly Haiti. The porous border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti facilitates the illegal movement of goods, including tobacco products.

Distribution of Smuggled Cigarettes

Once inside the Dominican Republic, smuggled cigarettes are distributed through clandestine networks. Major urban centers like Santo Domingo and Santiago serve as primary distribution hubs, from which the illicit products are disseminated to smaller towns and rural areas.

The cigarettes are often sold in informal markets, street stalls, and small retail outlets, bypassing the collection of government taxes.

Conclusion

The latest seizure was just one of a series of seizures carried out by this specialist frontier unit of the Dominican armed forces. The seizure highlights the ongoing issue of tobacco smuggling in the Dominican Republic and the need for continued efforts to combat this illicit trade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where did the smuggled cigarettes come from?
A: The origin of the smuggled cigarettes is not clear, but it is believed that they may have come from neighboring countries, particularly Haiti.
Q: How are smuggled cigarettes distributed in the Dominican Republic?
A: Smuggled cigarettes are distributed through clandestine networks, with major urban centers like Santo Domingo and Santiago serving as primary distribution hubs.
Q: What is being done to combat tobacco smuggling in the Dominican Republic?
A: The Dominican armed forces, in collaboration with other government agencies, are working to combat tobacco smuggling through seizures and investigations.

Sources: Listin Diario, Dominican Today, OpenAI.