Based on management controls, information cross-checks and risk analysis, the General Directorate of Customs carried out operational procedures aimed at preventing the release to the port of five containers more than 95 tons of merchandise in an irregular situation, valued at USD 6,5 million.
The merchandise that was intended to enter the country consisted mainly of toys, prescription glasses, makeup and clothing zippers; All of them lacked the corresponding certifications from third-party organizations and, in many cases, the merchandise turned out to be counterfeit. The containers were carrying a small load consisting of food and groceries that were not in a minimum level of health and lacked the intervention of Anmat. It should be noted that the release of this type of merchandise would require the intervention and certification of third-party organizations such as Anmat, and even trademark owners for possible trademark fraud.
“Customs has just prevented an illegal entry of merchandise worth approximately $1.000 billion pesos. We are talking about 5 containers, 35 million toys, 10 million pairs of glasses and 7 million zippers,” explained the official. Director General of Customs, Guillermo Michel, while touring the northern zone tax warehouse.
The seized merchandise consisted of three major areasAmong them: 35.000.000 toys for a market value of almost $293 million pesos, 9.950.000 million glasses for a value of $313 million pesos and 7.000.000 closures for approximately $13 million pesos.
This operation involved the intervention of the National Economic Criminal Court, which, once the required actions and interventions had been carried out, authorized the transfer of the seized merchandise to the Escobar Customs Warehouse in order to facilitate the verification and appraisal tasks by the customs personnel.
The following participated in the procedure: Toy cameras, locks and optics.
The president of the Argentine Chamber of the Toy Industry, Emmanuel Poletto said: "The chamber is here participating in this operation that really makes us very happy because there are 35 million toys that were intended to enter the country without complying with any safety standards. It should be noted that we are close to Children's Day and this huge amount of toys would cause significant damage to the national industry." He explained that in Argentina there are 180 toy factories and that the industry generates 8000 jobs. "On the other hand, all these toys represent a risk to the health and safety of the little ones. Here we can see trademark fraud, in addition they do not comply with safety standards and cause harm to official licensees," said Poletto.
Also, the president of the Argentine Chamber of the Optical Industry, Norberto Fermani He said: “We are facing a completely irregular event, an operation that, at least in my case as president of the optical industry, I have not seen in decades. It is clear that there is a major illegal activity here.”
The president of CGERA and owner of Lynsa closures, Marcelo Fernandez He stated that: "It gives us great satisfaction to know that we have a Customs Office that thinks about the defense of the national industry, that is attentive to these bad practices that are unfortunately carried out by Argentine businessmen or companies that bring these articles at a very low price and try to avoid taxes by declaring them in another way. Having an attentive Customs Office, an active Customs Office as we see it today is really very important.”
Finally, the Customs Officer He stated that: “What we are trying to do is continue with the work of the Customs, following the work guidelines of the Minister of Economy Sergio Massa and the Federal Administrator, Carlos Castagneto, to protect national employment and defend the industry of our country.”
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