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Authorities Seize 500,000 Adulterated Cigarettes Without Health Registration in Chiriquí
🇵🇦 Panama /Health & Science

Authorities Seize 500,000 Adulterated Cigarettes Without Health Registration in Chiriquí

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Panamanian customs officials seized about 500,000 adulterated cigarettes valued at roughly $42,000 during a raid in San Pablo, Chiriquí.
  • Two people were detained and a third remains under investigation, according to the regional customs director.
  • Authorities said the products lacked health registration and would remain in custody while investigators examine their origin and distribution.

A raid in Panama’s Chiriquí province uncovered about 500,000 adulterated cigarettes that authorities said lacked health registration and could endanger consumers.

The shipment, valued at approximately $42,000, was seized in the San Pablo district of David. Abdiel Lescano, the regional director of customs in Chiriquí, said two people were detained and a third remained under investigation.

The people continue with this type of business, and Customs is on top of the investigations. There are two people detained and one under investigation.

— Abdiel LescanoThe regional customs director described the seizure and the status of the investigation.

“The people continue with this type of business, and Customs is on top of the investigations,” Lescano said. He added that authorities were concerned about the scale of sales of low-quality tobacco products in Panama, claiming that they account for a large share of consumption.

“The 80% of tobacco consumption in Panama is from these poor-quality products,” he said. Customs officials said they would strengthen monitoring, inspections and controls aimed at detecting illicit goods and combating smuggling. The seized cigarettes remain under official custody while investigators determine their origin, those responsible for selling them and any applicable penalties.

80% of tobacco consumption in Panama is from these poor-quality products.

— Abdiel LescanoHe expressed concern about the scale of low-quality tobacco sales in the country.
About this summary

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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