Today (09.03.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX) lThe Honduran Customs Administration signs a memorandum of understanding with Crime Stoppers. The purpose ands establish the necessary cooperation for the design, implementation and promotion of actions, programs and projects related to impunity, the prevention of smuggling, counterfeiting and customs fraud. In this way, they establish strategies jointly or individually to raise awareness and promote a culture of transparency and the reporting of illegal activities. In this way, citizen security actions will be promoted.
Crime Stoppers is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in the United States in 1977, with a presence in 7 regions, that seeks to support countries in strengthening their security, development and citizen participation plans. To do so, it observes current legislation and strict compliance with Human Rights.
This organization seeks to support the work carried out by Honduras Customs within the current national regulatory frameworks and the entity's guidelines.
The Executive Director of the Honduran Customs Administration, Juan José Vides, He explained: “The memorandum of understanding is valid for 5 years and the actions include: Development of the Crime Stoppers Honduras Platform, through which you will receive anonymous information on illicit trade, customs fraud and all illegal acts that are of interest to the Honduran Customs Administration.”
Vides stated that The signing of the agreement is covered by Article 198, paragraph 5 of the Tax Code contained in Legislative Decree 170-2016, which states: “Powers of the Tax Administration and the Customs Administration: 5) Establish and maintain relations with institutions, national and international organizations and cooperation agencies linked to the Tax Administration and the Customs Administration, in accordance with the provisions of this Code.”
For its part, Crime Stoppers Regional Director Alejo Campos, he claimed: "The signing of this Memorandum completes the work that has been carried out in the Northern Triangle since 2017, together with Guatemala and El Salvador, to fight against organized crime and one of its forms of financing, which is illicit trade and its relationship with money laundering.".
"LThe inclusion of Honduras arises from a need to work on high-incidence transnational crimes in this region," said the representative of Crime Stoppers, adding: “Today we begin with the launch of the platforms for anonymous reporting of cigarette and merchandise smuggling, but we hope that other sectors will join this year. This alliance strengthens the role of citizens in building public security as a central axis of assistance to authorities in preventing and combating organized crime.”.
"We believe that the culture of legality must prevail, the crime of smuggling is an international issue that affects the whole world, that is why we have to commit to inter-institutional and organizational alliances in the region.", said the Executive Director of Honduras Customs. “That is why this day becomes a historic day, not only for Honduras Customs but for the country in general, through all the institutions that fight against illicit activities.”.
Amongst the Commitments made by Honduran Customsthe following are found:
- Maintain fluid communication in order to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding.
- Form and designate, in writing, work teams and/or focal points to receive, verify and follow up in a timely manner on all information received by Crime Stoppers.
- Carry out the relevant coordination with the competent authorities of Honduras in order to obtain positive results and be accountable to citizens.
- Design and implement all types of actions for the dissemination, promotion and publicity of the anonymous reporting module.
- Form joint or separate strategic alliances to comply with the document. Include Crime Stoppers staff in training sessions, events and other activities organized by the Honduran Customs Administration.
- Facilitate, manage and promote joint initiatives in meetings and procedures with national authorities and counterparts related to the implementation of CrimeStoppers in Honduras, within the framework of this agreement.
The commitments made by Crime Stoppers are the following:
- Design and operation of the Crime Stoppers platform in Honduras to receive anonymous information on illegal trade, customs fraud and all other illegal activities that are of interest to the Honduran Customs Administration.
- Share anonymous information received from citizens through Crime Stoppers with the Honduran Customs Administration.
- Hold meetings, workshops, seminars, training sessions and encounters with public and private institutions, both national and international, related to the relevant issues of Honduras Customs.
- Disseminate, promote and publicize the decisions taken within the framework of this agreement.
- Manage technical and financial cooperation to support the implementation of the actions contemplated in the Memorandum.
- Include Honduran Customs Administration personnel in training sessions, events and other activities organized by Crime Stoppers in Honduras and in other countries in the international network.
- Generate and share statistical data from the information received.
For more than 5 years, Crime Stoppers has been working with the Republics of El Salvador and Guatemala; now, with the inclusion of Honduras, technical cooperation and the exchange of information between the countries is strengthened to combat smuggling and other merchandise.
Prior to the agreement with Crime Stoppers, Honduran Customs had intensified coordination with different investigative and security entities, including the Ministry, the National Directorate of Investigation and Intelligence (DNII), the National Police, the Maya CHORTI Force, and other public institutions such as the Revenue Administration Service, the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Honduras, the Honduran Land Transport Institute, the Sanitary Regulation Agency (ARSA), the National Service for Food Health and Safety (SENASA), and private companies, in order to counteract smuggling, counterfeiting, and fraud.
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