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.
In Costa Rica a considerable increase has been reported in the illegal transfer of agricultural products such as avocados, which have been banned from Mexico for almost three years.
Crhoy.com reports that "... 'The Fiscal Control Police (PCF) reported a change in the trend of items confiscated in the first quarter of 2018. This is because they have detected significant shipments related to products such as avocados and garlic."
In the view of businessmen in Guatemala, the country has become a connection center for merchandise that is transported illegally from the Colon Free Zone, in Panama, to the Corozal Free Zone, in Belize.
Within the to and fro of contraband products moving from the south of Central America on the route to Mexico, a significant amount stays in Guatemala, where criminal structures are responsible for "marketing" these products throughout the territory.
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.
In 2014 a special unit was created to deal with complaints about the marketing of fake garments, and since then it has received an average of five complaints a month.
The market for fake clothing brands in the country has been growing, according to the authorities at the Economic, Tax and Customs Crimes Prosecutor's office, which claims to receive five complaints per month.
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."
The new law lowers from $50,000 to $5,000 the minimum amount of goods in infraction, for it to be considered as a crime of smuggling.
The Legislature approved the bill which sanctions with penalties smuggled goods worth over $5000. The new law also provides for penalties against "split smuggling", made by the same group or individual.
"... The reform proposes that when different entries are reported for amounts less than the $10,000, but which added together exceed that figure, they will be considered a violation of the law, regardless of whether the entry is of different products or money. Prison sentences and fines will be toughened and repeat smugglers could be punished with 3-10 years in prison, depending on the offense. "
The Smuggling law approved on its first reading includes penalties of 3-10 years in prison for those who illegally sell goods infringing animal, human or plant health.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
UCCAEP celebrates approval of project to improve anti-smuggling
Business sector considers it a step towards the promotion of formality.
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.
One out of every five bottles of liquor consumed in the country comes from the illegal market, which moves $64 million and is growing by 30% every year.
The easy availability of raw materials and the lack of regulation on the end use of these products, leads to one out of every five bottles of liquor consumed in the country being illegal, absorbing 23.5% of the total spirits market in terms of volume and total sales.
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%.