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Dominican Republic Customs warns it also seizes the vehicles used in smuggling

SANTO DOMINGO.- The Customs Agency (DGA) today warned that the law authorizes it to seize contraband merchandise, as well as the vehicles used to smuggle it.

DGA director Miguel Cocco rejected a request by a truckers union in the border town Elías Piña, which asked for the return of 4 trucks seized by the authorities carrying contraband from Haiti, who alleged that the drivers were unaware of the freight?s contents.

He said that the contraband in the 4 trucks seized by the authorities is valued at 5.16 million pesos

Cocco said that 8 Customs officials in Elías Piña are suspended and are under investigation from that case, including the collector, whose name was not provided.

The Customs director said the investigation continues and warned that the authorities will continue seizing contraband and taking the violators to court. "We will never let ourselves be intimidated by anybody, we will continue acting without contemplation against the smugglers, always in adherence to the regulations and the laws of the country," he said.

The 4 trucks were intercepted several weeks ago in the capital?s Manoguayabo subdivision and some of their occupants brandished guns against the agents who stopped them.