DILI, 07 september 2021 (TATOLI) – The Authority for Inspection of Economic, Sanitary, and Food Activities (AIFAESA) together with the Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police (SCIP) seized illegal cigarettes that are being sold at the Taibesi market, one of the two local markets in the capital Dili, the other one is Manleuana Market.
“Today, with the cooperation of AIFAESA and SCIP seized three kinds of illegal cigarettes that are being sold at this market. Hundreds of packs of cigarettes were gathered together in 17 plastic bags, including three boxes of cigarettes,” AIFAESA’s General-Inspector, Ernesto Monteiro told reporters after the one-day inspection at Taibesi Market.
The three types of illegal cigarettes that were confiscated including Surya, Pohon Sagu, and Matahari.
He said based on the decree-law 14/2016, these types of cigarettes (Surya, Pohon Sagu, and Matahari) were banned from importing to Timor-Leste.
Monteiro said all of the confiscated cigarettes were pouring into the country via the black market, saying, therefore, his party would cooperate with the relevant authorities to find out those who are responsible for such illegal activities.
“AIFAESA’s responsibility is to control the illegal goods in the country. Regarding the ceasing of the illegal stocks from entering the country, I think it is part of the work of the border police and Timor-Leste’s Customs service,” said Monteiro.
At the same place, Ameta Soares, one of the street vendors who lost 17 packages of Surya and four boxes of Pohon Sagu said that he didn’t realize those are the illicit cigarettes.
“I call on the relevant authorities to prevent and stop these illegal goods at the border zone. We are just ordinary people and we know nothing about it. You know losing 17 packages of Surya and four boxes of Pohon Sagu is a big loss for a small street vendor like me,” Soares said.
He said if the government wants to control such illegal activities; the relevant authorities must prevent it right at the border zone to not let these illegal goods pouring into the country.
In addition, Francisco da Costa Sousa, one of the vendors informed that so far the AIFAESA hadn’t informed the vendors regarding the decree-law 14/2016, which bans those types of cigarettes.
“A question came to my mind, how come such illegal goods entering the country, while there are heaps of PNTL’s members working at the border zone,” he said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
