Smuggled beer seized in Dili

DILI, East Timor (JP): Tax and excise authorities at the Port of Dili have seized 2,000 boxes of Sagress beer illegally imported from Portugal.

Sources at the governor's office said yesterday that the beer were imported by a senior official of the Portugal-Indonesia Friendship Association.

They said the alcohol was imported to Dili through PT Arha Bangun Nusantara, a subsidiary of Arha Group, the sole distributor of liquor in the area.

Chief of the East Timor tax and excise office R. Soenarno said the beer has been held at the Dili Port for several weeks. "We can not release it because it is not covered by the necessary documents," he said.

He added his office was investigating the case and suggested that journalists see the director of PT Arha Bangun Nusantara for details about the smuggled beer.

Officials of PT Arha Bangun Nusantara were not available for comment.

Sagress beer, apparently smuggled, had been found in the local market last year but it disappeared after being exposed in the local mass media.

Meanwhile, a police officer in charge of security at the port's storehouse claimed he had been approached by PT Arha Bangun Nusantara to help release the beer. (03/pan)