Second High-Level Meeting of the COEPA Regional Public-Private Alliance

StrategosBIP

Oct 2, 2023

3 min read

Held in Cartagena, Colombia, on September 29, 2023

Official COEPA 2023 photograph, Cartagena, Colombia

Convened by Strategos BIP, the United Nations University for Peace and Universidad Hemisferios in Ecuador, the Second High-Level Meeting of the COEPA Alliance took place on September 29 in Cartagena, Colombia, with the participation of 28 government institutions, international organizations, universities and companies.

The event opened with retired Brigadier General Juan Carlos Buitrago Arias, CEO of Strategos BIP and spokesperson for the COEPA Alliance. He presented the Alliance’s progress since its launch in December 2022, the results achieved during that period and new proposals to fulfill its objective: reducing the incidence and harmful effects of illicit trade in the region.

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Representatives of participating institutions deliver welcoming remarks

The meeting received virtual welcome messages from Dr. Luis Carlos Reyes Hernández, Director General of Colombia’s National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN), and Dr. Tayra Ivonne Barsallo Z., Director General of Panama’s National Customs Authority. Greetings were also delivered by Dr. Juan Felipe Bernal, acting Director General of Colombian Customs; Dr. Dario Sandoval, delegate of Panama’s National Customs Authority; General Fausto Olivo, Inspector General of Ecuador’s National Police; Rear Admiral Norman Cabrera, Chief of Colombian Naval Intelligence; the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) representative at the United States Embassy in Panama; Dr. Maria Carolina Uribe, representing Philip Morris International; and Dr. Didier Alberto Tavera, President of the National Federation of Departments.

Representatives of participating institutions deliver welcoming remarks

Panel 1 – Authorities: Progress in preventing and combating illicit trade in the region, results and challenges within COEPA

In a panel bringing together regional authorities, participants presented advances in preventing and combating illicit trade, along with results and challenges within COEPA and in the Colombian, Ecuadorian and Panamanian contexts.

Panel 2 – Strengths, challenges and difficulties in coordinating regional efforts to prevent and combat illicit trade

Representatives of the private sector and academia discussed the challenges and opportunities involved in coordinating regional public-private efforts to prevent and combat illicit trade.

Centre for Research, Monitoring and Analysis of Illicit Trade (CIMA)

Participants also reviewed the progress of CIMA, the Centre for Research, Monitoring and Analysis of Illicit Trade, a platform developed by Strategos BIP, and the benefits it offers authorities in fulfilling their mandates at both strategic and operational levels.

Learn more about CIMA

Working session

The working session discussed a proposal for participating public institutions to sign a declaration of principles to formally consolidate the COEPA Alliance in the near future. Participants also considered implementing an operational agenda through a Regional Intervention Group (GIR) against the smuggling and counterfeiting of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, textiles and other products, supported by a strong private-sector contribution in reporting, information and analysis.

Visit to the Port of Cartagena

Finally, participants made a field visit to the Port of Cartagena. The Cartagena Port Society, Cartagena Container Terminal (Contecar), DIAN, the Colombian National Police’s Anti-Narcotics Directorate, and the United States government’s HSI and Customs and Border Protection shared their efforts, good practices and results in combating illicit trade at this port, ranked among the five most efficient in the world.

Participating institutions

Government of Colombia: Colombian Navy; National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN); Fiscal and Customs Police (POLFA); National Police Anti-Narcotics Directorate (DIRAN); Metropolitan Police of Cartagena de Indias (MECAR); National Federation of Departments (FND); and Office of the Attorney General (FGN).
Government of Ecuador: National Police, National Customs Service, and Financial and Economic Analysis Unit.
Government of Panama: National Customs Authority, Ministry of Public Security, National Police, Office of the Attorney General, and National Border Service.
Government of the United States of America: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), both part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
International organizations: Police Community of the Americas (Ameripol) and the Organization of American States.
Private sector and academia: Crime Stoppers International; Commission for the Defense of Formal Trade of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala; Estrategia Jurídica; Federation of Chambers of Industry of Central America and the Dominican Republic; Foundation for the Study of Money Laundering and Crime; Philip Morris International; Cartagena Port Society; Strategos BIP; Cartagena Container Terminal; Universidad Hemisferios; and the University for Peace.