An intensive action plan involving information exchange and joint cross-border operations was developed at the First Meeting of the Chile-Peru Bilateral Working Group to combat smuggling, the National Customs Service of Chile reported on Monday (24.06.2019).
The meeting is in response to the commitment signed in November last year by Presidents Sebastián Piñera Echenique and Martín Vizcarra Cornejo in the so-called Santiago Declaration, the statement said.
The Bilateral Working Group held its first working day at the Santa Rosa Border Complex (Peru) and was attended by 36 representatives of customs, police, judicial, health, agricultural and ministerial services linked to border control of both countries.
The event was inaugurated by the Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs in Tacna of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Minister Alberto Massa Murazzi; who together with the Consul General of Chile in Tacna, Gustavo Alberto Díaz Hidalgo; the legal advisor of the Commission for the Fight against Customs Crimes and Piracy of the Ministry of Production of Peru, Hugo Vila Gómez; and the representative of the Chilean Customs, Constanza Bucarey Andaur; gave the welcoming remarks.
Commitments acquired
Exchange of information between the Customs of Arica (Chile) and Tacna (Peru) to generate early warnings related to risks associated with smuggling, as well as to analyze the traceability of goods entering and leaving the free trade zones of both countries.
Strengthening border control on matters related to intellectual property, encouraging on the one hand the culture of respect and on the other, the coordination of control operations in both primary and secondary areas.
Mechanisms to strengthen control over cross-border money transit and to this end, binational operations will be planned to verify the entry and exit of cash and securities, both in primary areas and in unauthorized crossings and areas adjacent to border complexes.
The Director of the Foreign Relations Office in Tacna, Alberto Massa Murazzi, said that «Tacna and Arica are a good example of complementarity and interdependence that develops in different fields, such as trade and tourism, constituting a strength of bilateral relations. However, these same border dynamics also generate joint challenges "such as smuggling, which distorts the efforts made by honest and hard-working people to maintain active and healthy bilateral trade."
Bilateral Working Group, in the Peruvian city of Tacna. Photo: Chilean Customs
The diplomat added that although the border between Chile and Peru is only 168 kilometers long and is not as long as the borders they have with Bolivia or Brazil, it is a very active border due to the high flow of passengers and cargo.
The Consul General of Chile in Tacna, Gustavo Alberto Díaz Hidalgo, highlighted the joint work that reflects the good standing of the relations between both countries. He added that the phenomenon of smuggling is a type of transnational crime that threatens the production and legislation of both countries.We want a secure border and this is another example of the progress of our real integration. Smuggling violates the laws that regulate the economy and it is necessary to confront it together.".
Authorities in Tacna and Arica. Photos: Chilean Customs
The work day also included presentations by the Head of Operational Control in Tacna of the National Superintendence of Tax and Customs Administration (Sunat), Juan Ruiz Torres; the Head of Inspection of the Regional Directorate of Customs in Arica, César Zamora Pérez; the representative of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Peru, Omayra Chuquihuara Gozalo; and the representative of the Public Health Institute of Chile, Victoria Bartsch Espinoza; who referred to the main routes and modus operandi used by smugglers, as well as new risks, statistics on interventions and seized products.
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