Santo Domingo, DR—The Minister of Agriculture confirmed the seizure of fruits, vegetables and other foods from Spanish artist Julio Iglesias at the Punta Cana International Airport (east of the country).
Limber Cruz López, head of the entity, explained that the seizure of the musician's food is due to “control and surveillance that we have throughout the national territory.”
“We are alert and we have very strong surveillance throughout the national territory. You know that there was a sporadic incursion of the Mediterranean fly (agricultural pest),” said Cruz López.
He said that they have had to reinforce “all surveillance, and it is not focused on him or anyone specifically; “It belongs to everyone.”
“We are strengthening everything a country has to do to protect itself. Remember that we are an open and free country, with more than 400 daily flights, eight airports, many ships coming and going,” the official stated.
Seizure
According to Agriculture, 42.16 kilograms of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, tomatoes, beets, celery, beans, spinach, lettuce, mushrooms and arugula were intercepted in the luggage, destined for transit to the Dominican Republic.
The passenger was surprised with the cargo from the Bahamas on flight number N768JJ when he tried to carry the seized material in his luggage.
Engineer Rosa Lazala, director of Plant Health, through the Secretariat of Agricultural Communications, explained that the country's Health and Quarantine technicians reinforced surveillance and inspection, pre-verification and inspection of luggage and all passengers.