Within the framework of the Forum “Strategies to combat smuggling”, which took place on Thursday (17.12.2020), organized by Aduanas Honduras, experts on the subject emphasized the role of customs administrations together with the private sector to combat cross-border illicit trade and the protection of citizens and economies against criminal organizations that operate internationally.
Juan José Vides, Executive Director of the Honduran Customs Administration, who opened the virtual meeting, said: “The forum is a sample of experiences of inter-institutional work in customs in the region that allows generating new strategies to combat smuggling in an integrated manner.” In this regard, he pointed out that “Public institutions must work in synergy with the private sector, in line with the customs function of control, use of risk management and exchange of information.”
In that context, Werner Ovalle, Guatemalan Customs Superintendent and WCO Regional Vice President, He recounted the successful experience of combating smuggling from a comprehensive perspective.
"Illegal trade in Guatemala is made up of customs fraud and smuggling “among other illegal acts,” Ovalle said. He explained: “Customs fraud is any action or omission through which the payment of taxes applicable to the customs regime is fraudulently evaded. Meanwhile, customs smuggling is introducing or removing goods from the country, clandestinely, evading the intervention of the customs authorities, even if this does not cause fiscal damage.”
At the same time, the official detailed the effects of crimes such as tax evasion or incorrect payment, failure to comply with the State's purposes and duties, the reduction of the State's competitiveness, the increase in the informal economy, the institutional weakening of the State, corruption and the vulnerability of people's health and safety.
To address the complex problem of smuggling linked to organized crime, Guatemala outlined a coordination effort between the public and private sectors.
So, "In 2017, the SAT created the Department against Customs Fraud and Smuggling, within the Customs Office. This Department follows up on the strategies and actions that arise from the Interinstitutional Council for the Prevention and Combating of Tax Fraud and Customs Smuggling (COINCON) "The Council must support the SAT in preventing and combating these crimes. The Council is chaired by the SAT and is also made up of the Ministry of Public Finance, the Ministry of the Interior, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Economy," said the Customs Superintendent.
He also highlighted that “in the area of international cooperation, binational operations have been coordinated and carried out by the Guatemala-Mexico High-Level Security Group, the Guatemala-El Salvador High-Level Security Group and the Guatemala-Honduras High-Level Group on Security and Justice.”
Ovalle stressed that “In 2018, the State Policy for the Prevention and Combat of Customs Fraud and Smuggling 2018-2028 was approved.. As a result, massive campaigns are already being developed to promote reporting and inform the population of the legal and health consequences of buying and using contraband products. The objective is to raise awareness, especially among the population in border areas, of the damage it causes to the national economy.”
“This year, in addition,” the official added, “the first Inter-Institutional Control Post (PCI) was inaugurated in the municipality of Pajapita – San Marcos, which reflects the commitment between State institutions, public-private cooperation and international cooperation in the fight against illicit trade.”
"Through COINCON, the advisory and consulting body of the SAT, Guatemala managed to combat fraud and smuggling. From January to November 2020, the OMA managed to seize illegal products, capture criminal gangs that coordinated the illicit business, make adjustments to customs and various inter-institutional actions, and participate in specific operations within the framework of the OMA in the search for hazardous waste, cultural heritage, counterfeit medicines, flora and fauna,” explained the OMA Regional Vice President.
“It is essential to generate public-private cooperation. Pillar 2 of the SAFE Framework establishes the importance of this and Honduras is on the right path“Ovalle said. “Due to its modernization efforts to facilitate and ensure legal trade, the Honduran Customs was recognized by the WCO Regional Vice-Presidency in 2020,” he concluded.
Faced with the challenge of customs fraud and smuggling, Alejo Campos, Director of Crime Stoppers International, a global non-profit organization, expressed his willingness for joint strategies, with the aim of combating those illegal activities that exceed customs because they are matters of national security.
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.
