WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao Customs seized a shipment of alcoholic beverages on Friday during a targeted inspection of a container in the Brievengat district. 

The cargo originated from a local business but was not properly declared. Several required tax documents were missing, prompting authorities to confiscate the goods. 

According to Customs officials, the bottles were carefully concealed in boxes—an indication of a possible smuggling attempt. While the products themselves were standard consumer items such as beer and soft drinks, the shipment was only uncovered following a thorough inspection. 

The total value of the goods and the amount of unpaid taxes are still under investigation. For now, the items are being held in storage pending further inquiry. 

Customs has announced that inspections will be stepped up in the coming weeks, particularly for shipments arriving from the Netherlands. Authorities say this is due to previous discoveries of drugs and other illicit goods in containers from that region. 

“The goal is to more effectively combat tax evasion and smuggling,” the Customs office said in a statement.