The Subprefecture of Bella Unión (Subel) of the The national army seized merchandise that criminals intended to smuggle on board two boats that were traveling on the Cuareim River. The value of this merchandise amounts to three million pesos.
According to what was reported by the Navy, the incident took place around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Subel personnel received information that on the Argentine coast a group of people could be seen loading a boat with “packages” and headed for the Cuareim River.
Agents from the Subprefecture moved to the site and at that moment they saw two boats on which two people were traveling in each one. Both ships were heading towards the international bridge that connects Bella Unión with Barra do Quaraí.
Pursuit, shooting and seizure
The agents began a pursuit and it was then that one of the ships changed its direction to go to the Uruguayan coast, while the other continued its course.
The chase continued with the boat headed for shore. When the boat made landfall, the occupants escaped and escaped from the authorities.
On the other hand, the crew members of the boat that maintained its course on the river jumped into the water after receiving the order to stop. The criminals swam to the Brazilian coast and from there began to shoot at Subel officials.
The agents took control of the abandoned boat and moved it to the coast, where the other one was located. As they drove back, the criminals fired again, forcing the staff to move at high speed.
The Attorney General of Bella Unión, Stella Da Silva, is in charge of the case. Among the seized objects valued at three million pesos, cleaning products, cigarettes and groceries were found, as well as the two boats.
