CIMA Newsletter / Ed. October 2026: False Declarations, Large-Scale Cigarettes and Unregistered Health Products
CIMA NEWSLETTER: Monthly analysis of operational and strategic illicit trade events in Latin America, developed through the Central for Investigation, Monitoring and Analysis of Illicit Trade (CIMA).
🚨 October confirmed a trend that requires attention: illicit trade in Latin America relies on containerized cargo and major land corridors, with false customs declarations, large-scale cigarettes, and health products without sanitary registration.
During the month, CIMA identified massive seizures at ports in Brazil and Colombia, roadside controls in border areas, and reforms in Mexico and Argentina aimed at tightening control of declared value.
📌 Key developments this month:
🇧🇷 At the Port of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Receita Federal intervened four containers of misdeclared toys in the second phase of Operação Play Fake, with goods valued at R$ 28 million (USD 5.6 million).
🇨🇴 In Buenaventura, Colombia, the POLFA and the Prosecutor's Office seized three containers with 91,300 units of clothing, footwear and other foreign goods, with an estimated value of USD 3.35 million.
🇨🇴 Also in Buenaventura, the DIAN applied precautionary measures to 14 containers of Christmas lights, with a provisional valuation of COP 8.4 billion; this is not yet a final seizure.
🇲🇽 In Mexico, the Chamber of Deputies approved in general, with 334 votes, a Customs Law reform against undervaluation and fiscal fuel smuggling, which now moves to the Senate.
🇦🇷 In Argentina, ARCA issued General Resolution 5910/2026, which tightens the border neighbor traffic regime and sets a daily limit of USD 150.
🇧🇷 In Roraima, Brazil, Operação Zaqueu is investigating alleged improper payments to facilitate customs controls on goods coming from Guyana.
Criminal networks exploit every link of the logistics chain: the customs declaration, the container, the road corridor and the point of sale. Containing them requires combining control of declared value with physical inspections, cooperation among authorities and permanent monitoring.
📊 CIMA's operational analysis for October recorded an estimated value of USD 17,794,361, while 63% of events have no estimated economic value.
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