DIAN announces 4,259 seizures worth $151 billion against smuggling and drug trafficking
The DIAN recorded 4,259 seizures of illegal goods between August and October, 82.6% more than in the same period of the previous government.
DIAN reports 82.6% increase in seizures and announces new measures against evasion and smuggling
The National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN) recorded 4,259 seizures of illegal goods between 7 August and 11 October, valued at more than $151 billion, according to information released by the Office of the President and reported by infobae.com. The figure represents an 82.6% increase compared with the same period of the previous government, when retentions reached approximately $83 billion.
Andrés Felipe Velásquez Reyes, director of the agency, announced that the DIAN will present, together with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, regulatory initiatives to strengthen customs and technological controls against evasion, smuggling and criminal economies. Velásquez stated that the investigated conduct "compromises fiscal sustainability, national security, public health and fair competition and economic development of our country".
"These interconnected conducts are fuelled by illicit resources, are articulated with criminal structures, national and international, and therefore demand a harmonious and forceful response from State institutions," the official noted in a video released from the Office of the President.
Controls on machinery, precursors and illegal mining
The announced controls will aim to halt unauthorised shipments of yellow machinery, drones, chemical precursors, medicines diverted for the manufacture of synthetic drugs and petrol destined for the processing of drug-trafficking inputs. Velásquez also mentioned the illegal production and export of gold and strategic minerals, as well as fictitious exports.
In terms of tax inspection, the DIAN will cross-reference information on overseas assets, electronic invoicing, electronic documents, exogenous data and cryptoassets to detect operations linked to tax evasion or smuggling. The agency also seeks to simplify procedures and prioritise collection of overdue accounts with outstanding obligations.
International cooperation with the US, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands
Velásquez highlighted cooperation with international authorities to combat smuggling networks, asset laundering and drug trafficking. The United States participates through the Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP) and the Homeland Security Investigations Office (HSI). The DIAN also works with the customs authorities of Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands, as well as the Anti-Narcotics Directorate and Migration Colombia.
Three large-scale operations in Cali, six cities and Cesar
The highest-value operations concentrated on textiles, clothing, cigarettes, tobacco products, machinery and electrical and electronic apparatus, with actions mainly in Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Maicao.
The first took place in Cali between 24 and 27 September. The DIAN and the Fiscal and Customs Police (Polfa) intervened in a clandestine warehouse where goods valued at $38.52 billion were seized, including more than 1.8 million pairs of shoes, clothing, perfumery products and toys.
The second operation took place on 29 and 30 September with 992 simultaneous inspections in public warehouses and arrival points in Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cali, Ipiales and Medellín.
The third action occurred on 20 October on the Bosconia–El Paso road in the department of Cesar, where DIAN officials detained a tractor-trailer transporting more than 570,000 cigarette packs valued at more than $4.13 billion.
"The result of these three actions: 132 precautionary measures valued at more than $14.675 billion," Velásquez specified, including seizures, temporary retentions and suspension of operations.
Source: Google News CO — Crime