Drug seizures in Chile's Tarapacá region increased by 67,7% year-on-year in 2022 after the seizure of more than 5 tons, according to data provided by the National Customs Service.
El Regional Director of the Iquique Customs, Cristian Molina Silva, made a positive assessment of last year's management, "where we must highlight the work carried out by all the officials of the region, who in addition to achieving institutional goals, managed to respond to complex scenarios and new challenges."
In relation to the above, the manager pointed out that there was a 144% increase in reports of smuggling of merchandise valued at more than US$ 24 million. Also, the number of cigarette packs sold grew by 12%. cigarettes seized, which means that 4.471.317 packets of contraband were intercepted with an estimated tax evasion of US$ 11 million 857 thousand dollars. Another relevant fact regarding tobacco smuggling is related to the detection of a paste called Chimo which comes from Venezuela and which last year reached 33.767 units.
Molina Silva added that there was also a 49% increase in the confiscation of cocaine hydrochloride with 733 kilos 192 grams, 40% in the findings of ketamine with 306 kilos 373 grams and a 108% growth in detections of marihuana with 2.981 kilos. “To these figures we must add 324 thousand 788 ecstasy pills and 390 of methamphetamine, which reflects the scenario we are facing," said the executive.
Franchises
In another area and as a way of graphing the great documentary volume that processes Customs, the director said that last year they controlled 342.620 exit documents of free zone, 62.316 re-shipments and 50.603 ingresos a Zona Franca. Likewise, different franchises were administered and delivered, such as the issuance of 6.488 passers-by and renewal of 4.158 for residents of the region, to which are added 4.670 vehicles for disabled people favored by Law 20.422 and another 1.582 who moved permanently from the region and made use of the so-called Article 35 of Law 13.039. There are also 136 cases of Chileans who returned from abroad and chose to import a vehicle through Iquique.
Other relevant information was the cargo and passenger flow due to the customs advances, especially after the opening of borders. This is how mattress The number of passengers increased by 296% to 248.102 people, while cargo and trucks maintained the trend of recent years and grew by 35% to a total of 84.195 trucks. Quillagua 1.835.547 people passed through and El Loa 1.705.747, which means that the increase in land passengers was 34% in the region with a total of 3.789.396 travelers.
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