August 17, 2022, 11:30 AM
August 17, 2022, 11:30 AM
In a mega operation, according to the regional manager of the Santa Cruz Customs, José Luis Mollinedo, a heavy blow was dealt to smuggling by raiding and seizing more than 200 tons of soybean and corn seeds from a warehouse belonging to a seed company that operates in the capital of Santa Cruz.
He noted that the result of the operation is the result of a coordinated work of rastrillaje and intelligence carried out by the National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (Iniaf) and military tactical units that combat smuggling. “There are indications that it is a transgenic commodity that puts the public health of the Bolivian population at risk and threatens it,” Mollinedo said at a press conference.
Brenda Pardo, departmental head of INIAF Santa Cruz, stated that as the guarantor of the control of seeds always carry out routine operations on highways and in seed plants.
“On this occasion we made an inspection, following a complaint, to a plant registered in Iniaf and several ‘white bags’ have been found whose variety of genetic material is not registered and that is not allowed for sale in the national market”, he stated, realizing that the merchandise corresponds to a company that operates on the route to Cotoca.
