Thanks to the work being done by the Integrated Center ICA, INVIMA, POLFA/DIAN (CIIIP), which has the support of the Ministry of Agriculture to confront and control illegal activities and smuggling of agricultural products, so far in 2022, 2,329,080 units and kilograms of perishable products valued at $4,354 million have been seized.
In what corresponds to the month of May and part of the month of June, with the action of the CIIIP, 665,525 units and kilograms of perishable products valued at $1,441 million were seized.
“These good results are a good example of teamwork, which in the Government of President Iván Duque allows us to confront with actions one of the great evils that affects the agricultural sector and farm workers, such as smuggling. Thanks to the work of the Tax and Customs Police, the Directorate of Police and Rural Security in conjunction with the ICA, INVIMA and the DIAN we are hitting the illegality in the rural sectorâ€, said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rodolfo Zea Navarro .
As representative cases, the following stand out:
• Seizure of 102 tons of fertilizers valued at $258 million, through the work of the authorities in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, and it was possible to prevent them from entering the country illegally.
• Confiscation of 5,277 kilos of fish valued at $167 million, through the work of the authorities in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, and it was possible to prevent them from entering the country illegally.
• Seizure of 36,275 kilos of oranges valued at $111 million, through the work of the authorities in Ipiales, Nariño, and it was possible to prevent them from entering the country illegally.
• Seizure of 385,000 kilos of bananas valued at $96 million, through the work of the authorities in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, and it was possible to prevent them from entering the country illegally.
• Seizure of 15,170 kilos of cassava valued at $86 million, through the work of the authorities in Ipiales, Nariño, and it was possible to prevent them from entering the country illegally.
• Seizure of 11,802 kilos of onion valued at $71 million, through the work of the authorities in Ipiales, Nariño, and it was possible to prevent them from entering the country illegally.
In terms of seizures of meat products, the retention of 9,702 kilos valued at $178 million was achieved by the DIAN in the first five months of the year. In the month of May, meat seizures reached 3,177 kilos of meat, valued at $66 million. The following criminal structures were dismantled:
• Operation "Los Mercaderes" through the work of the authorities in Ipiales, Nariño, the dismantling of the criminal structure dedicated to the illegal marketing of perishable products (banana, lemon, ginger and onion) was achieved, 06 people were captured for the crimes of conspiracy to commit crimes, favoring and facilitating smuggling, with an economic impact on the State worth 900 million.
• Operation "Angus" through the work of the authorities in Riohacha, La Guajira, the dismantling of the criminal structure dedicated to the illegal marketing of carcass meat was achieved, 03 people were captured for the crime of violating sanitary measures, with an economic impact. to the State for a value of 24 million.
Finally, Minister Rodolfo Zea reiterated the determination of the current Government to fight against illegality and smuggling with forceful facts: "with this we support the work of farmers and ranchers within the framework of working together for the countryside". ■