Businesses close for adulterated drinks in SFM

The National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumer) ordered this Thursday the closure of several establishments in San Francisco Macorís for the sale of adulterated alcoholic beverages that caused the death of two people.

Through a statement, Pro Consumer He maintained that the owners of the closed businesses will be brought to justice in the next few hours.

Relatives of the victims reported this Wednesday that due to the alleged ingestion of adulterated drinks, two men died and two others receive medical attention. The event occurred in the La Javiela neighborhood, in the 27 de Febrero sector, in San Francisco de Macorís, Duarte province.

The deceased were identified as Lorenzo Antonio Morillo Gómez and Rafael Antonio Mercedes, who, according to relatives, were taken to a hospital, but did not survive.

Eddy Alcántara, director of the entity, said that early this morning brigades of inspectors from the institution began an extensive operation in the La Javiela neighborhood, in the 27 de Febrero sector, in the Duarte province, where the adulterated drinks that caused the deaths of Lorenzo Antonio Morillo Gómez, 67 years old, and Rafael Antonio Mercedes Hernández, 55 years old, who lived in said neighborhood.

The official indicated that among the grocery stores that were closed for the sale of adulterated alcoholic beverages, which also keep two other people in serious condition at the San Vicente de Paul Hospital, in that city, are La Altagracia and La Azuquita, the first located on calle A, near the Javiela bridge, and the second, on calle Duvergé number 8, of the aforementioned sector.

“Those responsible for these deaths will be sent to the courts of the Republic so that the full weight of the law falls on them,” he added.

Alcántara reported that the operation was extended to other sectors adjacent to the place where these deaths occurred and counterfeit alcoholic beverages in gallons and bottles were found in other establishments.

He explained that the closure of these businesses will be final “until the courts rule on the investigation and actions against those responsible for these events.”