National authorities maintain that the truck loaded with contraband beer, seized on Wednesday, April 20, at dawn in Santa Cruz, tried to break the fence created by Customs officials and members of the Armed Forceswhich is why fire was opened on his tires and fuel tank.
The intervention left one person dead and three arrested, and took place in a home, located near the Cambodromo, where Nearly 40 tons of alcoholic beverages illegally brought into the country were seized.
“This high-tonnage truck, trying to break through the fence, attacked the Customs officials and the Armed Forces. Faced with this need and legitimate defense, military personnel use their firearmsbut they do not shoot at people, they shoot at the tires and the fuel tank, to stop the escape of this motorized vehicle,” said the Vice Minister of Fight Against Smuggling, Daniel Vargas.
In this regard, the head of Customs, Karina Serrudo, assured that all protocols and regulations to carry out the operation were complied withand regretted the attack that people carried out on officials to prevent the confiscation of the merchandise.
The press conference the day before:
“This morning (Thursday) we have presented an extension to the prosecutor for the crime of aggravated smuggling, because there was an attack by smugglers on all personnel (officials, soldiers and police officers) They were guarding the home,” he explained.
The high-tonnage truck was left in the custody of the Public Ministry, which is investigating the circumstances in which the fatal outcome occurred. The deceased was identified as Jorge Alberto Flores (27).
The official report indicates that “eight civilian officials from the National Customs, six members of the Armed Forces and the National Police They surrounded the warehouse, after requesting support”, who acted in “legitimate defense”, according to the vice minister.
