-Published: Friday, September 27, 2019-
70-year-old woman arrested, suspected of smuggling liquor
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Fiscal Control Police conducted two raids in the province of Alajuela*. They were gathering evidence for crimes including the adulteration of alcoholic beverages.
According to the police report, a 70-year-old woman surnamed Ramos-González is suspected of allegedly manufacturing liquor on her property. Her family is suspected of helping with the operation.
The case began in January when an anonymous complaint alerted authorities to suspicious activities taking place on the property of the suspect.
In the raids, the officers found bottles of liquors with labels of well-known brands.
Common ingredients for distilling whiskey were also found. Authorities believed they were being used for manufacturing adulterated liquor.
"We presume that the suspects went to the places where liquor bottles were recycled and bought the bottles, specifically whiskey bottles, and then filled them with 90-proof ethyl alcohol" this according to Director of Police Irving Malespin.
This alcohol was apparently sold in drug stores.
They are suspected of filling the bottles with water, alcohol, flavoring, and a colorant to make the liquid look like whiskey.
According to the police, the investigation shows the suspects selling adulterated liquors in bars and shops located in Alajuela and San Jose.
In addition to the confiscation of the proof that will be used as evidence in the case, the principal suspect and three of her relatives were arrested.
The four suspects were taken to the holding cells of the Public Ministry where they were interrogated by the judicial agents. They must wait until a judge orders the pre-trial measures against them.
In another case related to smuggling liquor, officers seized more than 8,000 bottles of liquor allegedly smuggled in one day.
According to the police report, in a highway control operation, in Paso Canoas* in the southern zone, the officers detected two drivers, who had their cars loaded with the liquor bottle boxes.
Hours later, in another road control operation, in the same area of Paso Canoas, another driver was arrested, carrying 6,000 bottles of liquor in a truck.
In all three cases, drivers did not have the proper liquor import documents nor the corresponding tax payment.
According to the police report, in one day 8,000 bottles of liquor were seized. All allegedly smuggled from Panama.
According to police statistics, 572,000 bottles of liquor have been seized during anti-smuggling operations this year.
"The consumption of adulterated products can lead to irreparable damage to health and even death, as has been reported in recent months. These smuggled products also represent a loss of income to the Treasury Department," said Irving Malespin.
The tax control police have enabled the telephone number 2539-6800 to receive complaints about the suspicious of sale or production of illegal products, or contraband.
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