The Specialized Corps for the Control of Fuels and Merchandise Trade (CECCOM) carried out operations in different provinces of the country, where it seized 2,639 bottles and cans of alcohol and 1,242 units of contraband cigarettes, while in another operation in the municipality of Yamasá it dismantled a clandestine alcohol manufacturing factory.
The operations to remove alcoholic beverages and cigarettes unfit for human consumption from the market were coordinated by inspectors from the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (PROCONSUMER) and carried out in Puerto Plata, San Francisco de Macorís and Santiago de los Caballeros.
While the dismantling of the clandestine factory for the production of alcohol unfit for human consumption was carried out by the CECCOM Intelligence Directorate in the municipality of Yamasá, accompanied by members of the organization’s Central Region, where they found 22 tanks in production in the proximities of a stream in a vacant lot of the community, equivalent to 4,580 liters.
During this year, the Specialized Corps for the Control of Fuels and Trade in Merchandise has carried out multiple dismantling of clandestine factories and confiscated drinks, medicines and cigarettes, assured its director, Brigadier General Cesar Augusto Miranda, when assessing the actions against the illicit trade executed by that address.
While from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM) its head, Minister Víctor Bisonó reiterated that the seizures of medicines, adulterated alcoholic beverages and cigarettes reached record numbers during this year, pointing out from August 2020 to 2022, 1,093,281 units were seized in different lines.
It reported that 134,855 units of cigarettes, 6,135 bottles of counterfeit brand alcohol and 53,825 400 mg bottles of adulterated alcoholic beverages were seized.
He also explained that as a result of the operations carried out by the Specialized Corps for the Control of Fuels and Merchandise Trade (CECCOM), 157 people have been arrested and 549 points of interest are being monitored, in which illegal activities have been reported.
It also revealed that 1,929 units of male sexual stimulants of different brands were seized.
Bisonó appreciated the intelligence work of CECCOM and stressed that thanks to them, the points and establishments where clandestine products are manufactured and sold have been detected in time, proceeding to dismantle them immediately, seizing the products and arresting those responsible.
The Specialized Body for the Control of Fuels and Trade in Merchandise (CECCOM) was created by decree 279-04 of April 5, 2004 as a dependency of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Mipymes (MICM) and later, with the promulgation of the Organic Law of the Armed Forces, becomes a dependency of the Ministry of Defense.