FIRST OFF . . .

The U.S. Customs Service has accused a U.S. official of involvement with a network that smuggled Cuban artwork into the United States for personal gain and to benefit members of the Cuban government, Reuters news agency reported. Customs special agent Peter Liston alleged in a Miami court affidavit that Jerry Scott, a public affairs officer at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, illegally brought around 40 Cuban paintings from Cuba to Miami International Airport in February, 1988. The affidavit states that Scott, who still works for the State Department, failed to declare the shipment with customs inspectors and violated a U.S. embargo on importing Cuban artwork and other goods. When questioned by a customs agent, Scott is alleged to have said that he gave the paintings to Ramon Cernuda, a prominent Cuban-American art collector who lives in Miami. The paintings were by Cuban artist Nicolas Guillen-Landrian. Cernuda is accused in court papers of buying another 110 pieces of Cuban art from Guido Adriaenssens, who is alleged to have acquired the paintings in Cuba and illegally shipped them into the United States in 1985. There was no mention in the court papers of whether Scott was paid for the paintings he is alleged to have smuggled. “Cuban artwork is being smuggled into the United States by a network of individuals who are selling the paintings in the United States for personal gain and allegedly to profit members of the Cuban government,” the customs affidavit stated. Law enforcement officials in Miami said Friday that no criminal charges had been filed against Scott and declined to say whether such action would be taken. They also declined to elaborate on the alleged role of Cuba’s government in the smuggling plot.