He coal for Hookah (instrument used to smoke) is among the products that most seized the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) Between 2020 and June 2025, a list to which articles such as toys, rasters, cosmetics and personal care goods are also added, among others.
Withholdings usually originate for two reasons: Intellectual Property Violation (falsifications) or for irregularities in products, such as technical details, Customs documentationincorrect tariff classification or absence of permits and licenses required by the competent authorities for certain products, according to the DGA.
On average, between 2020 and June of this year, 68,930 units of different articles linked to alleged infractions in terms of intellectual propertyincluding violations of the scoring law, retaining in that period 4,549,444 products.
Raw material associated with registered trademarks, bucklesshoes and socks and Personal cleaning articles make up the list of the 10 main types of retained goods by the Dominican customs authorities in the aforementioned period.
The DGA He clarified that, “in terms of intellectual property does not make seizures, but withholdings. ” allegedly falsified goods that violate rights of intellectual property“
A report published last Wednesday by the European Commission reveals that Electronic cigarettes And the vopemers have joined the list of the most seized false products By the customs authorities of the European Union (EU), which also include computer programs, toys, clothing or body care items such as perfumes and cosmetics.
Countries of origin
In 2024 the customs and surveillance authorities of the EU market intercepted 112 million counterfeit products worth 3.8 billion euros. According to the report, the United Arab Emirates They have joined China and Türkiye as main countries of origin of confiscated counterfeit products.
The nations of the Asian continent, mainly Chinathey are the main origin of the counterfeit goods that are retained in the Dominican terminals. According to the DGAthese reach the territory by different routes: maritime (containers in ports) and aerial (load and luggage).
The main retentions are concentrated in the sea ports of Haina and Caucedo, in the Santo Domingo province, as well as in the Las Américas International Airportalthough he clarifies that the greatest proportion of seizures in these terminals is because they constitute the main entrance doors and merchandise output of the country.
Lower vulnerability
Dominican Republic was recently recognized in the index of Illicit trade 2025 of the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (Tracit) as one of the nations less vulnerable to that crime in Latin America and the Caribbean, located in the 50 of 158 countries evaluated.
With a qualification of 54.3 pointsover 100, the country exceeds other nations in the region, such as Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and Peru, according to the Ministry of IndustryCommerce and MSMEs.
Merchandise
The General Directorate of Customs He maintains that retained goods They remain in custody in enabled enclosures until the end of the legal process.
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It details that when falsification is verified, by means of a judicial or administrative decision, the goods are destroyed or donated, the latter with the authorization of the brand holder and that the logos that have the marking infraction may be removed, in accordance with the established protocols and in coordination with the brand holders and organizations specialized in waste management.
Specifies that only in case the merchandise is confirmed as legitimate, its Delivery to the importer.
Regarding estimates of economic losses due to falsificationsThe institution affirms that it does not assign a commercial value to the retained goods.
However, he ensures that brand holders denounce that falsifications They significantly affect their market share, damage reputation and put the health and safety of consumers at risk.
