In Costa Rica, the retail sector guild estimates the monthly value of illicit trade generated through social networks such as Facebook at $8.5 million.
From the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce statement:
San José, Wednesday, December 18, 2019. The illicit market in social networks reaches an inventory value of at least 5.1 billion colones per month ($8.5 million).
In Costa Rica, it is estimated that illegal trade mobilizes around $1.230 million per year, which is equivalent to 7% of household consumption.
According to a study by the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce's (CCCR) Illicit Trade Observatory, the products most affected by smuggling are cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, spare parts for vehicles, clothing, pharmaceuticals and medicines.
The impact of illicit trade in Guatemala is such that "in the case of the paper industry, smuggling has grown to the point of taking away a portion of the market from companies and 30% of their turnover."
Guatemalan businessmen say that out of every ten products sold in the country, three are of illegal origin.The impact of illicit trade on business activity can already be seen in the turnover of companies, who are also forced to reduce their employee payrolls.
It is estimated that 4 out of 10 products that are sold in the local market are of illegal origin, mostly medicines, liquors, soft drinks, beers and cigarettes.
The union of Honduran businessmen estimates the country's losses caused by contraband goods at $127 million, a phenomenon which occurs to a greater extent in products for human consumption, such as medicines and beverages.
Commercial activity grew in 2016 driven by subsectors such as automobiles, although brakes were still encountered such as growing informality, smuggling and bureaucracy in health and safety records.
At the end of the year, the commercial sector has maintained its relevance for the country 's economy and has become the main generator of employment, with 15% of the total labor force, according to the balance complied by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica.
The devaluation of the Mexican peso has worsened the problem in the border areas, where it is estimated that 70% of all products sold are illegal.
The Association of Manufacturers of Food Products (Grefal), says the problem is more serious in the departments of Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu, Coatepeque, San Marcos and Huehuetenango. Thereseven out of every ten of the products traded"... are contraband that comes in through the Mexican border."
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. The obvious difference in prices and growing demand for the product due to the proximity of the holiday seasons are the main factors that contribute to an increase in alcohol smuggling in Honduras at this time of year.
The Chamber of Commerce and the General Department of Customs have signed an agreement for exchange of information and monitoring of imports in order to control the illegal transit of goods.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica:
Monday October 27, 2014. The Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica (CCCR) and the General Department of Customs (DGA) on Monday signed an Agreement for Cooperation Trade Transparency in order to combat all unfair practices in trade, such as smuggling, counterfeiting and other illegal practices.
The complaints made by industrialists revolve around informal trade, the fight against smuggling, competitiveness and innovation.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica:
At a meeting between the President of the Republic, Luis Guillermo Solís, and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica several concrete proposals were presented to the Government in four priority areas for the work of the organization, in order to start work together.
A retailers union has submitted to the government a number of measures aimed at combating the smuggling of goods and informality in the commercial sector.
The Union of Retail Sellers, recently created by the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce and Services -Cecoms- has submitted proposals to combat the illegal entry of goods into Guatemala.
Customs fraud and smuggling goods have affected retail companies for years , for which reason, the CACIF has created the Union of Retailers, comprising of supermarkets, appliance stores, importers of beverages and liquor, sellers of tobacco, electronic appliances and computers.
The activities of well-established smuggling networks have distorted the normal functioning of trade, having become an everyday part of life for a sector of the population.
The closure of Central Tabacalera SA (Tacasa), which may have been caused by increased cigarette smuggling, mainly in Panama, can be seen as one of the many consequences of the phenomenon of illegal entry of goods.
Anti smuggling operations are working, resulting in tax collections by Customs grow by 3%.
From a publication in Diario de Centro América:
Working together to reduce smuggling
The first quarterly report of the National Commission Against Contraband (CONACON) contains encouraging news: From June to September smuggling has been reduced and customs revenue increased 3%.