Regions leading the fight against cigarette and liquor smuggling

So far this year, the departments of the country have achieved forceful actions in the fight against contraband with the apprehension of more than 96,000 cigarette packs, 41,000 bottles of liquor (750ml), and about 71,000 beers (350ml), total merchandise valued at a commercial value of more than 1,130 million pesos, according to information from the Apprehension Registration and Control Observatory (ORCA), a vital tool for measuring and controlling the management of the Operational Groups attached to the departmental revenue offices.

(These are the products that are most smuggled into Colombia).

For the leader of the Anti-Smuggling Program and Deputy Director of Agreements and Agreements of the National Federation of Departments (FND), Michelle Figueroa Pachón, “The seizures reached in the first months of 2022 are a highly positive result for the territorial entities that, thanks to the Tax on the Consumption of cigarettes, beers, liquors and snacks, strengthen the finances allocated to health, education and sports services for the benefit of the community; Likewise, they reflect the hard work carried out in 2021 throughout the national territory through specific actions such as the Antioquia Plan, the anti-smuggling strategy for Christmas and New Year, among others, which allowed the seizure of more than 6 million packs. of cigarettes, 112 thousand bottles of liquor (750ml), and 828 thousand beers (350ml)”.

During the control visits by the Operational Groups, 133 commercial establishments have been closed for allowing the sale of cigarettes and illegal liquor, putting the health of consumers at risk and being permissive with the criminal networks that use contraband to commit other related crimes, such as drug trafficking and money laundering.

“As particularities, we have identified that 20% of the alcoholic beverages seized are adulterated, which generates an immediate public health alarm considering the risk of consuming this type of product; Also, illegal sales occur to a greater extent in non-commercial establishments. On the other hand, 48% of illegal beers were seized in vehicles and 43% in commercial establishments”said Figueroa.

(In 5 years, Colombia has lost $2.4 billion for illegal cigarettes).

The FND Anti-Smuggling Program reiterates that smuggling affects the health of the community, posing risks to vision and other diseases; It is also a crime that affects departmental income, and whoever sells contraband cigarettes and/or liquor is exposed to confiscation of illegal merchandise; at the closure of the establishment for up to 120 days; to theto cancellation or suspension of licenses, concessions, authorizations or registrations; to financial fines and to deprivation of liberty.

Any irregular act can be reported confidentially on line 321 394 2169 of the Fiscal and Customs Police.

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