The General Directorate of Customs, dependent on the Customs Regulation and Control Agency (ARCA), reported on Wednesday (06.11.2024) on the detection of alleged irregularities in 20 containers identified as suspects through their risk profiling system. This discovery is the result of an operation carried out in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, which includes both the Argentine capital and nearby towns in the province of the same name.
“The containers were mainly transporting merchandise from China and the United States. Of these, 11 are in Terminal 4 of the Port of Buenos Aires, 3 in Terminal TRP and 6 in Exolgan, in Dock Sud,” Customs spokesmen reported. The cargo is under investigation for having entered the country through irregular maneuvers, including products from prohibited import, missing certification y inaccurate statements.
According to the same source, "in one of the containers, for example, an import of skates had been declared; however, upon inspection, the Customs staff discovered car engines, high-end video game consoles, perfumes, among other items.” He added that “another container, whose documentation declared reams of paper, contained tires without the Certificate of Approval of Auto Parts and/or Safety Elements (CHAS), necessary to certify their safe use.”
The Argentine agency responsible for controlling foreign trade operations throughout the country has warned of a worrying trend: “In many cases, the declared merchandise was located in the access area of the container, and when it was removed, the illegal products were exposed.”
Among the seized goods are also computers, notebooks, Champagne bottles, virtual reality headsets, permanent hair removal machines without ANMAT authorization and electronic cigarettes, the latter having been banned from the national market since 2011.
The Customs Office reported that the value of the irregular merchandise is in the process of being estimated, although it is estimated at several million dollars. The complaint has already been filed with the Court, and the case is moving forward in the economic criminal court.
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