AREQUIPA, Peru – The Cuban regime sent an audit to the Chinese wholesale market, called China Import, located in Cerro. During the intervention, several irregularities were detected that led to the closure of the establishment after only two months of its opening.
A press release from the Government of Havana, cited by the state media Cubadebateindicates that the “control action” was decided based on “opinions, complaints from the population and other elements disseminated on social networks.”
The market, located in Manglar between Oquendo and Nuevo Pilar, became popular after its inauguration by offer a wide variety of products. Purchases at the store were regulated by minimum quantities depending on the type of item, with an expenditure of no less than 50 USD.
According to the statement, the business was operated by a self-employed person from the province of Santiago de Cuba, through the leasing of an old warehouse of the Suchel Light Industry Company.
“The inspection, initiated by the Ministry of Domestic Trade, in conjunction with the Provincial Directorate of Commerce of Havana, found violations of current regulations for self-employment,” the text states.
Among the most serious violations pointed out by the Government were sales of goods in dollars, products for sale without visible prices, and failure to enable the walkways. electronic payment established, illegal hiring of labor and participation of foreign citizens as workers, violating the conditions of stay in the national territory.
“Based on these irregularities, it was decided to halt commercial activity and expand the scope of control, including monitoring compliance with tax obligations,” the report highlights.
The official note also stresses that during the investigation, significant inconsistencies were identified between the amount of taxes paid and the volume of operations carried out, essentially those associated with the importation of goods, which, together with the lack of accounting records and the use of personal bank accounts to manage business funds, “constitute indications of the crime of tax evasion.”
The intervention also warned that in this process there were deficiencies in the control function of the administrative authorities involved, who did not detect the irregularities existing in the approval and execution stage of the commercial activity, “in view of which responsibilities are being clarified in order to apply the corresponding measures.”
With the closure of China Import, the Cuban regime justifies the improvement made to the regulatory framework for the forms of non-state management and its relations with the state sector.
In this regard, the statement highlights the “need to strengthen control mechanisms and demand for administrative and corporate responsibilities” from private companies on the island.
