The General Directorate of Customs of El Salvador reported that this week it received a delegation from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) as part of an official visit aimed at learning firsthand about the functioning of the national customs system and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against fraud and illicit trade.
From the same official source they have confirmed to Customs News that the work agenda began with a tour of the San Bartolo Customs, Located in Ilopango, San Salvador Department, a key unit of the Salvadoran customs system. There, the European representatives observed in detail the control, inspection, and clearance processes carried out in this important logistics center. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against fraud and illicit trade.
Later, the procession moved to the Port of Acajutla, located in the department of Sonsonate, on the Pacific coast. It is one of the main logistics platforms in the Central American country, where the majority of Salvadoran maritime trade is transported. There, the European representatives witnessed the customs operations carried out at the facility and learned firsthand about the strategic role it plays in the country's foreign trade.
The relevance of this type of exchange lies in the framework of the institutional modernization process.As El Salvador Customs, we are committed to continuing to work on modernizing our processes and infrastructure, always focused on customer service, which positions us as a benchmark in the region., expressed the Director General of Customs of El Salvador, Benjamín Mayorga.
Following these actions, and as reported in the statement, a contract was signed. Cooperation Agreement between the General Directorate of Customs of El Salvador and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)This instrument is considered key to strengthening the fight against customs fraud, illicit trafficking, and other threats affecting international trade.
Salvadoran Customs emphasized that this agreement will allow:
- The exchange of information on criminal networks and illicit activities linked to international trade;
- The implementation of joint research and specialized technical cooperation;
- Strengthening risk analysis through strategic intelligence; and
- Continuous training of human talent in customs control and combating transnational crime.
In the words of Benjamin Mayorga, “This agreement reaffirms our commitment to legality, transparency and international cooperation.”, he said after signing the document.
Along these lines, the communication concludes that "OLAF's visit is part of El Salvador's sustained efforts to establish itself as a reliable partner in the fight against commercial fraud and as a proactive player in protecting regional and global supply chains."
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