Asuncion, IP Agency.- A total of 14,370 kilos of Brazilian tomatoes, smuggled into the country, were seized in a warehouse located in the town of Areguá, Central department. The product was to be sold in the markets as national production.
The head of operations of the Anti-Smuggling Directorate of the National Directorate of Tax Revenue, Julio Martínez, explained that the warehouse was found after monitoring alleged tomato producers who sold large volumes in the Mercado de Abasto and in supermarkets in the country.
With the collaboration of technicians from the National Service for Plant and Seed Quality (Senave), it was determined that the cargo, distributed in 648 boxes, was of Brazilian origin, having been smuggled into the country.
It should be remembered that, currently, Senave does not grant import permits for this item, with the aim of promoting the marketing of national production that is in the harvest period.
Boxes of locally produced tomatoes were also identified at the scene of the seizure, suggesting that the smugglers’ modus operandi consisted of mixing the illegal product with the local product to sell it in supermarkets.
He said that the DNIT has already identified another depot that is operating under similar conditions. “In the next few days we will also intervene,” he announced.
According to current market prices, the seized product would have an approximate value of 300 million guaraníes.
The cargo is currently in the DNIT warehouses and once its safety has been confirmed, the seized tomatoes will be donated to care centres, nursing homes and food banks, said the head of Operations.
More than 1,200,000 kilos of fruit and vegetables seized
The head of Operations of the Anti-Smuggling Directorate highlighted the intense work that has been carried out, following the line of “zero tolerance” to the illegal entry of products into the country.
In this regard, he reported that more than 1,200,000 kilos of fruit and vegetable products were seized in 11 months of management, which “is a record number,” he said.
“Although we are not going to stop the entry, because we have very extensive land and river borders, based on intelligence work and collaboration we are fighting and achieving our objectives,” he said.
He indicated that during this period, 700 vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and boats used to bring products into the country were also seized.
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2024-07-28 09:31:03
