Smuggling in Costa Rica

Up to 15% of the market in products such as cigarettes, liquor, drugs and footwear, is supplied with goods whose origins are illegal.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Added to the list of products that have traditionally been traded illegally, such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, there is an increasing tendency to smuggle medicines, shoes, clothing, and beauty and personal care products, among other things.

"This phenomenon has reached an unprecedented level and represents a tremendous danger to society and the world economy. Speculatations have been made as to how much this activity represents, some estimate that no less than 25% of all world trade could be in counterfeit products," said Guillermo Varela, executive director of the Association GS Uno Costa Rica to Elfinancierocr.com.

Cigarettes, drugs, liquor and money are the items that were most often confiscated by the Fiscal Control Police in 2013 (by number of units). The rest of the seizures were mostly personal items such as clothes, shoes and makeup. In most categories the amount of products seized in 2013 increased compared to 2010.

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More on this topic

Pandemic, Smuggling and Black Market

April 2020

Given the crisis in the region, businessmen in Guatemala report that smuggling of Mexican products has increased, while in Panama, beer producers attribute the rise in illegal trade in alcoholic beverages to the dry law.

With the spread of Covid-19, governments in Central America have decreed mandatory quarantines and have also restricted the movement of consumers at certain hours.

Alcoholic Beverages: Bill Causes Controversy

September 2019

In Costa Rica, a bill is being discussed that seeks to combat adulteration and smuggling of alcoholic beverages, but the business sector believes that if approved, the result could be an increase in illegal trafficking.

The project called "Law against adulteration and smuggling of alcoholic beverages", proposes the use of technological tools to combat smuggling, imitation and adulteration of alcoholic beverages.

Guatemala: Increase in Smuggling Denounced

July 2016

Rice, vegetable oil, liquor, eggs, sugar and cement make up the bulk of the products in the list of goods most affected by illegal trade in the country.

From a statement issued by the Chamber of Industry in Guatemala:

Guatemala, July 19 2016.

Smuggled Liquor in Honduras

November 2014

Liquor distribution companies are demanding that the government improve measures to control the illegal entry of spirits, particularly from Nicaragua.

The cost of a box of 24 units of Nicaraguan liquor ranges from $13.50 to $14, while in the Honduran formal market the same amount costs between $19 and $26.50.

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