As part of the Chilean Government's strategy to combat organized crime, the National Customs Service will carry out the long-awaited construction of a new complex at the Customs Outpost in Quillagua (north), through the investment of $24 million.
It should be noted that this fiscal measure, administered by the Regional Customs Office of Iquique, aims to control the goods that are transported to the south of the country by land, due to the Free Trade Zone or free port regime that exists in the Tarapacá Region, as well as being a tax protection barrier and against the smuggling of illegal goods, including drugs and weapons.
According to Chilean Customs, the construction of the new complex at the Customs Outpost in Quillagua will be located on Highway 5 North on the border of the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions.
To this end, the investment will be made during 2023, with its implementation projected for the first quarter of 2025.
La National Director of Customs, Alejandra Arriaza Loeb, highlighted in this regard that “the efforts and collaboration between the institutions that have been made to achieve this project. The new complex is part of the plan to combat organized crime that the government is carrying out, and which is headed by the Ministry of the Interior and the Undersecretariat of the Interior. The objective is to provide Customs officials with the best conditions to carry out the important work of inspection and protection of the country, against smuggling, illicit substances, weapons or any other merchandise that puts the country at risk.”
“The operation at the Quillagua customs control has been carried out for more than 45 years in the same place and the infrastructure used does not meet the minimum standards for efficient operation. The new customs control will be located on the south side of the current facilities, so its construction will not affect the permanent operation of the current control,” explained the regional director of Customs, Cristian Molina Silva.
The importance of this customs advance is reflected in the figures: between January and September 2022, 434.687 vehicles (trucks, buses and cars) and 1.358.377 people or passengers have circulated. While cargo movement reached, for the same period, 3.475.996 tons.
The project will have an execution period of 18 months, with an estimated 202 direct workers, including professionals, technicians, qualified labor and direct labor, with an investment in hiring of approximately $1.454 million annually, especially for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Tarapacá Region.
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
