Smuggled beer seized in Dili

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)