A total of 10,723,700 units of cigarettes corresponding to illicit trade in Panama were seized in July and the first half of August, as a result of the new confiscation plan implemented since last month by the National Customs Authority (ANA). We are talking about millions of products that do not comply with packaging regulations or the corresponding tax payments. Among the brands most seized in the last month are Gold City, Pine and Jaisalmer.
In just one month of the new administration, ANA has been carrying out important confiscation actions in different parts of the national territory. This plan aims not only to combat smuggling, but also to carry out the corresponding investigations to determine the origin and destination of the seized products. In addition to this, ANA is also making important efforts to strengthen cooperation ties with authorities in the region, which have resulted in the confiscation of millions of illegal cigarettes.
Last July, the National Customs Authority issued an international alert to its counterparts in the Dominican Republic, which led to the seizure of a 40-foot container that was carrying more than 10 million contraband cigarettes valued at more than B/.700,000.00. This seizure was the result of an intelligence analysis carried out by ANA inspectors on the merchandise transfer form submitted by the consignee, who had declared that he was transporting boxes of reeds and plastic cutlery.
