Because of factors such as business closures and lack of opportunities, it is estimated that criminal activity costs Honduras and El Salvador 16% of GDP, and in the case of Guatemala, its losses could amount to 7% of its production.
In Central America, the human costs of crime remain one of the highest in the world. El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—referred to as the Northern Triangle— account for about four-and-a-half percent of homicides worldwide despite only having about one-half-percent of the world's population.
After three soldiers were killed in Izabal, Guatemalan business sector asks the government to regain control of the territories where criminal groups dominate.
On several occasions, business chambers have denounced that organized crime groups operate in the area from the Polochic Valley to Izabal, thus affecting productive activity in the area.
The situation became clear after it was reported on September 3 that a patrol of the Guatemalan Army Marine Infantry was ambushed in the municipality of El Estor, department of Izabal. As a result, three soldiers were killed.
The bill being discussed in Costa Rica basically seeks to extinguish the assets of organized crime, but there are those who claim that as proposed, it puts at risk the presumption of innocence of individuals.
The extinction of domain is a concept that in practice refers to seizing or confiscating assets linked to criminal activities, and then transferring them in favor of the State.
A report by InSight Crime highlights the homicide rate registered in Costa Rica in 2017, which was 12.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest number in its history.
The report indicates that Costa Rica is a country that has traditionally been considered "peaceful," and in respect to the escalation of the homicide rate, an increase that local authorities attribute to organized crime, the report indicates that "... lack of retrospective and a vague methodology is weakening the authorities' attempts to attribute blame to organized crime."
The housing market, casinos, concert halls, and the livestock sector are all used to launder money in Central American countries.
Excerpted from the report "International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Volume II, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes" by the US State Department:
Costa Rica Transnational criminal organizations continue to favor Costa Rica as a base to commit financial crimes due to its location and limited enforcement capability. Costa Rica’s government has attempted to strengthen the legal framework for supervision and enforcement; however, challenges remain in mitigating money laundering risks. Costa Rica is a transit point that is also increasingly used as an operations base for narcotics trafficking; and significant laundering of proceeds from illicit activities continues. Costa Rica should continue to close financial crimes legislative gaps and allocate resources for investigation and prosecution.
Projects are becoming more expensive due to the fact that they increasingly include more security measures and in areas such as La Libertad, Soyapango, Ilopango and Apopa, some lots and homes are even losing value.
The wave of violence and insecurity affecting El Salvador is also being felt in the real estate market, especially in areas with high crime rates, such as La Libertad, Soyapango, Ilopango and Apopa, where"... houses may remain unsold for months. Contrary to this, in areas such as Santa Tecla and Santa Elena, buildings are in higher demand and are increasing in value because of their location. "
The most vulnerable to extortion are small and medium enterprises, which employ half of the economically active population.
From the executive summary of a study by Fusades:
In El Salvador, the crime of extortion has become one of the main problems affecting the work and economic activity of enterprises in recent years. Results from the Business Dynamics Survey conducted by FUSADES since 1991, consistently show that micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are more vulnerable to this crime than medium and large ones.
The IMF has indicated political polarization, high crime and outward migration, rising unit labor costs and high logistics costs, barriers to entry and expansion of business, fiscal uncertainty, and limited human capital.
From a statement issued by the IMF:
The IMF staff team visited San Salvador during April 25—May 6 for the 2016 Article IV consultation and held fruitful discussions with the Salvadoran authorities, parliamentarians, business community, academics, and social partners.
In 2014 the economic cost of violence in El Salvador exceeded $4 billion, while the opportunity cost of production and unmade investment was 4.8% of GDP.
From a press release issued by the Research Network at the Central Bank (REDIBACEN):
Today the Research Network at the Central Bank (REDIBACEN) presented the results of the research report entitled "Estimating the Economic Cost of Violence in El Salvador", carried out by the researcher economists Margarita Penate, Kenny de Escobar, Arnulfo Quintanilla and Cesar Alvarado.
The guild of merchants in Chiriqui has denounced the growing amounts of extortion by organized crime organizations, mainly affecting small businesses in the province.
The Chamber of Commerce of Chiriqui stated that "... among the criminal activities of most concern to informal businesses are links to illicit financing with cash flows in clandestine opportunities, drug dealing, illegal circulation of money and making links with gangs. "
The Panamanian government has announced its willingness to review current practices in the legal and financial system and collaborate with other governments in legal proceedings over financial and tax offenses.
Following the massive leak of financial information from a Panamanian law firm, the Government announced that it is evaluating the practices relating to its financial system and that it will collaborate with other jurisdictions to investigate citizens suspected of criminal activities, including tax evasion. The announcement was made by President Juan Carlos Varela.
Companies have to allocate up to 15% of expenses to security services, as a result of the growing violence in the country.
A company wishing to operate in Guatemala has to allocate between 8 to 15% of its expenses to security in order to keep operating. The figure was provided by Victor Guillen, manager of purchases, imports and exports at Dagas, and published by Elperiodico.com.gt, who revealed that his company earmarked Q250 thousand ($32,000) per month for the security of its plants, trucks and workers.
The Dutch Development Bank is making its exit from the country official and has suspended commitments and disbursements, including for a hydroelectric project promised for Agua Zarca.
"... Given the current situation, with ongoing violence, FMO decided to suspend all activities in Honduras, effective immediately. This means that we will not engage in new projects or commitments and that no disbursements will be made, including the Agua Zarca project."
The figure is an estimate made by the Intelligence Directorate in Costa Rica released by the US State Department, along with information that indicates a rise in criminal organizations based in the country, and little capacity to combat them.
Money laundering is a criminal activity that handles amounts that are difficult to measure. For example, the report "Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2004-2013" by Global Financial Integrity says that during the aforementioned 10 year period, the flow of illicit money from Costa Rica exceeded $11 billion, that is about $1.1 billion a year.
Businessmen have stated their categorical opposition to statements made by a government official that confuse extortion with the funding of organized crime.
The statements by the Technical Secretary of the Presidency of El Salvador, Roberto Lorenzana, against companies in the country that suffer from extortion caused a strong reaction from the private sector, four days after Industrias La Constancia publicly announced that it was suspending operation of its plants because of increasing insecurity and violence.