Fuerza del Pueblo demands exemplary sanction for customs fraud at the border
The political organization Fuerza del Pueblo has raised its voice to request that the Dominican authorities strictly apply the new Penal Code in light of the recent customs fraud scandals detected at the border with Haiti. Through an official statement, the party emphasized the need to carry out a thorough investigation that reaches all levels of command involved in these illicit operations.
Orlando Espinosa, Secretary of Customs and Port Affairs for the entity, maintained that both the new Penal Code and the General Customs Law 168-21 provide the necessary legal tools to severely combat economic crimes derived from the diversion of goods in international transit. According to the leader, it is imperative that investigations are not limited solely to direct operators, but rather dismantle the entire organizational structure that facilitates these practices.
If the competent authority has initiated any type of investigation, they must not stop at the weakest link. It is essential to determine who organizes, facilitates, and benefits from these illegal practices.
Orlando Espinosa, Secretary of Customs and Port Affairs for the Fuerza del Pueblo.
Scope of sanctions and corporate liability
Espinosa highlighted that the current legal framework allows for a more comprehensive prosecution, including crimes such as smuggling, falsification of cargo documents, breaking of seals, and bribery of public officials. The legal consequences could result in:
- Prison sentences and significant financial fines.
- Confiscation of assets, including heavy vehicles, trailers, and real estate used for the storage of irregular merchandise.
- Additional investigations for money laundering derived from illicit commercialization.
- Sanctions against legal entities, which could include the closure of warehouses, logistics terminals, and permanent disqualification from foreign trade.
The political leader emphasized the responsibility of companies, customs agencies, and transport corporations that, in his words, could be profiting from this system. If these irregularities are proven, the economic impact would be negative, not only due to the tax evasion that affects the State, but also due to the unfair competition that directly harms Dominican merchants and producers who operate within the framework of the law.
Finally, the People’s Force urged the authorities to strengthen traceability and real-time monitoring systems in the border area. The objective is to secure the international transit regime to ensure it is not used as a route for the irregular introduction of products into the national market, thus guaranteeing transparency in the country’s foreign trade.
