Santo Domingo.- In a searing response to allegations of “money launderers” voiced by the country’s authorized auto dealers (Acofave), who represent the automakers, the importers of used vehicles grouped in Anadive, Asocivu and Adeci on Monday said “the times of assaults in the West are over,” and hailed the Customs Agency for what they view as upholding the law in the levy of import duties on vehicles.

“The times of assaults with neckties in the Wild West are over, it’s the time of the rule of Law, not of the privileges of surnames,” the used auto importers said in a statement to the media, in response to Acofave.

In a paid full page ad, Anadive, Asocivu and Adeci added that they are willing to enter in a public debate on the conflict of taxes on vehicles, “to determine who the real beneficiaries are.”

On Sunday, the dealers of the world’s automakers grouped in Acofave denounced that many used car importers have managed to break the law and affirm that the lack of supervision allows some of them to launder money from local sources as well as from abroad.

In a statement, Acofave also revealed that most of those companies present customs declarations with lower costs.

The organization demands that the Internal Taxes, the Customs agencies and other authorities enforce the law, because the sector jeopardizes the country.

“The members of Acofave are legally organized companies, with numerous investments in infrastructure, shops, spare parts and training of human resources,” they said also in a paid, full page ad.