2024-05-12 01:23:59
A Cuban citizen was arrested near Miami International Airport (MIA) for carrying almost 100 cartons of cigarettes from the island.
Alexander Pérez-Vera, 50, became the protagonist of this story when he was arrested by the authorities when trying to illegally bring said tobacco onto Delta Airlines flight 1788.
However, Pérez-Vera did not anticipate that his arrival at the airport would mark the beginning of his legal misadventure in the United States.
Local press reported that the discovery occurred in a routine context, when the accused, questioned by Customs and Border Protection Personnel (CBPO) about his checked luggage, initially denied possessing any, in an attempt to conceal the illicit cargo.
However, the discrepancies in his declaration and subsequent verification of the passenger registry by the officers revealed the hidden truth behind his trip: two suitcases loaded with 97 cartons of H. Upmann brand Cuban cigarettes, which adds up to a total of 19,400 undeclared cigarettes.
Miami authorities indicated that this was not the first time Pérez-Vera had faced the law on similar charges. Records indicate that, since December 2022, he has been arrested on five previous occasions for the possession of illegal Cuban cigarettes, revealing a pattern of conduct that culminated in his most recent arrest.
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The seizure was carried out by the Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Miami, with the confirmation of the illegality of the products by an agent from the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of the State of Florida.
That said, the Cuban now faces serious charges that could have important consequences for his legal future and his stay in Uncle Sam’s land.
Editorial of Cubans around the World