The Court of Appeal has sentenced a citizen to seven years of imprisonment with hard labor after convicting him of smuggling 28,781 cans of alcoholic beverages—specifically Heineken beer—concealed within a shipment of energy drinks.

According to the Public Prosecution, the accused were involved in trafficking alcoholic beverages and illegally importing them into the country in violation of existing laws.

The case unfolded when a customs officer inspected a container arriving from Vietnam. The shipment was declared as containing energy drinks. However, upon inspection, authorities discovered that it also contained alcoholic beer cans concealed among the energy drinks. The container was sealed, and a coordinated ambush was set up in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The container held 1,599 cardboard boxes, each containing 18 cans of Heineken beer, with a volume of 330 ml per can, totaling 28,781 cans.

The primary accused, who owns the importing company, was arrested. Two additional suspects were later summoned and admitted to smuggling the alcohol from Vietnam. They also revealed that the primary accused had been involved in similar activities for several years.